Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 3 years to file a wrongful death claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 16 of 51 jurisdictions give 3 years for wrongful death claims: Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-62-102 | Date of death |
| Maryland | Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-904 | Date of death |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229, § 2 | Date of death |
| Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2) | Date of death |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 573.02(1) | Date of death |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-13 | Date of death |
| Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.100 | Date of death |
| Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204 | Date of death |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 556:11 | Date of death |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 41-2-2 | Date of death |
| Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. § 30.020 | Date of death |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2 | Date of death |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-51-40 | Date of death |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 21-5-3 | Date of death |
| Washington | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.20.010 | Date of death |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 895.04(3) | Date of death |
16 of 51 jurisdictions: Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin.
Other states allow 1 year, 2 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.