Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 6 years to file a oral contract claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 15 of 51 jurisdictions give 6 years for oral contract claims: Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 6-2-37 | Date of breach |
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1 | Date of breach |
| Indiana | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-7 | Date of breach |
| Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752 | Date of breach |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2 | Date of breach |
| Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(7) | Date of breach |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 541.05(1) | Date of breach |
| New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-1 | Date of breach |
| New York | N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2) | Date of breach |
| North Dakota | N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(2) | Date of breach |
| Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3) | Date of breach |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(2) | Date of breach |
| Tennessee | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105 | Date of breach |
| Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 511 | Date of breach |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 893.43 | Date of breach |
15 of 51 jurisdictions: Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin.
Other states allow 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 8 years, 10 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.