Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 2 years to file a wrongful death claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 33 of 51 jurisdictions give 2 years for wrongful death claims: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 6-5-410 | Date of death |
| Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 09.55.580 | Date of death |
| Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542 | Date of death |
| California | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1 | Date of death |
| Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-203 | Date of death |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555 | Date of death |
| Delaware | Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8107 | Date of death |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code § 16-2702 | Date of death |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(d) | Date of death |
| Georgia | O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1 | Date of death |
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-3 | Date of death |
| Idaho | Idaho Code § 5-219(4) | Date of death |
| Illinois | 740 Ill. Comp. Stat. 180/2 | Date of death |
| Indiana | Ind. Code § 34-23-1-1 | Date of death |
| Iowa | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) | Date of death |
| Kansas | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-1902 | Date of death |
| Louisiana | La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 2315.2 | Date of death |
| Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 18-C, § 2-807 | Date of death |
| Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-810 | Date of death |
| Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e) | Date of death |
| New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:31-3 | Date of death |
| New York | N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 5-4.1 | Date of death |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-53(4) | Date of death |
| North Dakota | N.D. Cent. Code § 32-21-02 | Date of death |
| Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code § 2125.02 | Date of death |
| Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1053 | Date of death |
| Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2) | Date of death |
| Texas | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b) | Date of death |
| Utah | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-3-107 | Date of death |
| Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 1492 | Date of death |
| Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-244 | Date of death |
| West Virginia | W. Va. Code § 55-7-6 | Date of death |
| Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-38-102 | Date of death |
33 of 51 jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
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.