Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations: State-by-State Comparison

How does your state’s sexual assault deadline compare to the rest of the country? Civil claims for sexual assault, abuse, or harassment. Here’s the full picture.

Range: Sexual Assault deadlines span from 2 years (Georgia, Pennsylvania) to 20 years (New York). The most common deadline is 3 years, used by 33 states.

States Grouped by Filing Window

2-Year States — Shortest Deadline

Georgia — 2 years

O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.1. Childhood abuse: extended period — consult an attorney

Georgia Details →

Pennsylvania — 2 years

42 Pa. C.S. § 5533. No SOL for childhood sexual abuse (SOVS Act 2019; window claims deadline passed Nov 2023)

Pennsylvania Details →

3-Year States — The Most Common Deadline

StateDeadlineOfficial StatuteKey Exception
Alabama3 yearsAla. Code § 6-2-38Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Alaska3 yearsAlaska Stat. § 09.10.070Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Arizona3 yearsAriz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Arkansas3 yearsArk. Code Ann. § 16-56-105Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Connecticut3 yearsConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Delaware3 yearsDel. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8119Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
District of Columbia3 yearsD.C. Code § 12-301(8)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Hawaii3 yearsHaw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Idaho3 yearsIdaho Code § 5-219(4)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Indiana3 yearsInd. Code § 34-11-2-4Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Iowa3 yearsIowa Code § 614.1(2)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Kansas3 yearsKan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(4)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Kentucky3 yearsKy. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.140(1)(a)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Louisiana3 yearsLa. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3493.10Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Maryland3 yearsMd. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Massachusetts3 yearsM.G.L. c. 260 § 4CMinority tolling extends period for childhood abuse
Mississippi3 yearsMiss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Montana3 yearsMont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Nevada3 yearsNev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
New Hampshire3 yearsN.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
New Mexico3 yearsN.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
North Carolina3 yearsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Oklahoma3 yearsOkla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Oregon3 yearsORS 12.117No SOL for childhood sexual abuse (Oregon law)
Rhode Island3 yearsR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
South Carolina3 yearsS.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
South Dakota3 yearsS.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Tennessee3 yearsTenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Vermont3 yearsVt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Virginia3 yearsVa. Code Ann. § 8.01-243(A)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Washington3 yearsRCW 4.16.340No SOL for childhood sexual abuse (2022 SB 5693)
West Virginia3 yearsW. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Wisconsin3 yearsWis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory

Other Deadlines

StateDeadlineOfficial StatuteKey Exception
Florida4 yearsFla. Stat. § 95.11(9)Childhood abuse (before age 16): 7 years from age 18, or 4 years from discovery, whichever…
Nebraska4 yearsNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Utah4 yearsUtah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Wyoming4 yearsWyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Missouri5 yearsMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Texas5 yearsTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.0045No SOL for sexual abuse of a minor where criminal conviction exists (post-2017)
Colorado6 yearsC.R.S. § 13-80-103.7No SOL for childhood sexual abuse claims (SB 21-73, 2021)
Maine6 yearsMe. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
Minnesota6 yearsMinn. Stat. § 541.073No SOL for childhood sexual abuse (2023 amendment)
North Dakota6 yearsN.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(5)Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
New Jersey7 yearsN.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:61B-1No SOL for childhood sexual abuse (SOL eliminated 2019)
California10 yearsCal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.16For childhood sexual abuse against an institution: no SOL under AB 218 (until 2026 revival…
Illinois10 years735 ILCS 5/13-202.2No SOL for child sexual abuse claims (2019 amendment)
Michigan10 yearsMCL 600.5805(12)No SOL for criminal sexual conduct of a minor (MCL 600.5851b)
Ohio12 yearsORC § 2305.111Childhood abuse: 12 years from age 18

20-Year States — Longest Deadline

New York — 20 years

N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214-j (CAVS Act). CVA: claims filed by survivors who were under 18 at time of abuse may be brought until age 55

New York Details →

Key Observations

Most Plaintiff-Friendly States

Most Defendant-Friendly States

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⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This comparison is for general informational purposes. Statutes change frequently and exceptions apply. Always verify the current rule with a licensed attorney in your state.