Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 2 years to file a medical malpractice claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 29 of 51 jurisdictions give 2 years for medical malpractice claims: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 6-5-482 | Date of act or omission, or date of discovery |
| Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Date of act or discovery |
| Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542.01 | Date of act or discovery |
| Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-114-203 | Date of act or discovery |
| Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-102.5 | Date of discovery |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 | Date of act or discovery |
| Delaware | Del. Code Ann. tit. 18, § 6856 | Date of act or discovery |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(b) | Date of discovery |
| Georgia | O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71 | Date of act or discovery |
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7.3 | Date of discovery |
| Idaho | Idaho Code § 5-219(4) | Date of discovery |
| Illinois | 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-212 | Date of discovery |
| Indiana | Ind. Code § 34-18-7-1 | Date of act or occurrence |
| Iowa | Iowa Code § 614.1(9) | Date of discovery |
| Kansas | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(7) | Date of discovery |
| Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5838a | Date of discovery |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-36 | Date of act or discovery |
| Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.105 | Date of discovery |
| Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 44-2828 | Date of discovery |
| New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-2 | Date of discovery |
| North Dakota | N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-18(3) | Date of discovery |
| Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. tit. 76, § 18 | Date of act or discovery |
| Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(4) | Date of discovery |
| Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2) | Date of discovery |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1 | Date of discovery |
| Texas | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.251 | Date of act or discovery |
| Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-243(A) | Date of act or discovery |
| West Virginia | W. Va. Code § 55-7B-4 | Date of discovery |
| Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-107 | Date of act or discovery |
29 of 51 jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
Other states allow 1 year, 2.5 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 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.