Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 3 years to file a nursing home abuse claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 17 of 51 jurisdictions give 3 years for nursing home abuse claims: Arkansas, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code § 12-301(8) | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| Maryland | Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2) | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49 | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204 | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8 | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| New York | N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5) | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5) | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5) | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1 | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4) | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| Washington | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2) | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m) | Date abuse occurred or was discovered |
17 of 51 jurisdictions: Arkansas, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
Other states allow 1 year, 2 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 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.