Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 2 years to file a defamation claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 18 of 51 jurisdictions give 2 years for defamation claims: Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 6-2-38(k) | Date of publication or utterance |
| Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Date of publication |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-597 | Date of publication |
| Delaware | Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8119 | Date of publication |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(g) | Date of publication |
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-4 | Date of publication |
| Idaho | Idaho Code § 5-219(5) | Date of publication |
| Indiana | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 | Date of publication |
| Iowa | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) | Date of publication |
| Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 753 | Date of publication |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1) | Date of publication |
| Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.140 | Date of publication |
| Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(3) | Date of publication |
| Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(c) | Date of publication |
| North Dakota | N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-18(1) | Date of publication |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-550 | Date of publication |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-15(3) | Date of publication |
| Washington | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.100 | Date of publication |
18 of 51 jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington.
Other states allow 1 year, 3 years. See the links on this page for each group.
Not always. Many states pause or extend the clock for minors, for harm that is discovered late, or when the defendant hides the wrong, and claims against governments often require earlier notice. Check your state's page for its exceptions.