Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 3 years to file a sexual assault claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 33 of 51 jurisdictions give 3 years for sexual assault claims: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 6-2-38 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Delaware | Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8119 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code § 12-301(8) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Idaho | Idaho Code § 5-219(4) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Indiana | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Iowa | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Kansas | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(4) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.140(1)(a) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Louisiana | La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3493.10 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Maryland | Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Massachusetts | M.G.L. c. 260 § 4C | Date of act or discovery of causal connection |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Oregon | ORS 12.117 | Date of discovery; no SOL for childhood |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1 | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Tennessee | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-243(A) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Washington | RCW 4.16.340 | Date of discovery |
| West Virginia | W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m) | Date of assault or date of discovery of harm |
33 of 51 jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Other states allow 2 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years, 7 years, 10 years, 12 years, 20 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.