All civil filing deadlines for Alaska — official statute citations, plain-English explanations, and key exceptions.
✓ Data reviewed: October 2026Quick answer: Alaska deadlines at a glance — personal injury: 2 years; medical malpractice: 2 years; written contract: 3 years; oral contract: 3 years; wrongful death: 2 years; defamation: 2 years.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| Case Type | Years to File | Official Statute | Key Exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⚖️ Personal Injury | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years |
| 🏥 Medical Malpractice | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | 10-year statute of repose from date of act |
| 📄 Written Contract | 3 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053 | — |
| 🗣️ Oral Contract | 3 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053 | — |
| 📰 Defamation | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | — |
| 🕊️ Wrongful Death | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.55.580 | Personal representative must bring claim |
| 🏠 Property Damage | 6 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.050 | — |
| 🔍 Fraud | 3 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053 | Discovery rule applies — clock starts at discovery |
| 🚶 Slip & Fall | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years |
| 🐕 Dog Bite | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years |
| ⚠️ Product Liability | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years |
| ⚡ Assault & Battery | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years |
| 🛡️ Sexual Assault | 3 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory |
| 🏥 Nursing Home Abuse | 2 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070 | Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years |
Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Date of injury
Alaska follows the standard 2-year rule for personal injury claims.
View Personal Injury deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Date of act or discovery
Alaska has a 10-year repose cap on medical malpractice claims.
View Medical Malpractice deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053
Date of breach
No major exceptions noted.
Alaska gives only 3 years for written contracts — shorter than most states.
View Written Contract deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053
Date of breach
No major exceptions noted.
Alaska gives 3 years to file a oral contract claim under Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053. Exceptions and special accrual rules are listed above.
View Oral Contract deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Date of publication
No major exceptions noted.
Two years for libel and slander claims.
View Defamation deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.55.580
Date of death
Claim must be brought by the personal representative of the estate.
View Wrongful Death deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.050
Date of damage
No major exceptions noted.
Six years for property damage in Alaska.
View Property Damage deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053
Date of discovery
Three years from discovery of the fraudulent act.
View Fraud deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property
Alaska applies the 2-year personal injury statute to slip and fall (premises liability) claims. To win, you must show the property owner knew or should have known of the hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn you.
View Slip & Fall deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Date of bite, attack, or injury
Alaska applies the 2-year period to dog bite and animal attack claims. Most states impose strict liability on dog owners for bites; some require proof the owner knew the animal was dangerous ("one bite rule").
View Dog Bite deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Date of injury OR date the defect was or should have been discovered
Alaska product liability claims follow the 2-year personal injury period. The discovery rule typically applies when a product defect was not immediately apparent. Check for any applicable statute of repose measured from the date of manufacture or sale.
View Product Liability deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Date of the assault or battery
Civil assault and battery claims in Alaska are subject to the 2-year personal injury statute. You can file a civil lawsuit regardless of whether criminal charges were filed — they are separate proceedings with different burdens of proof.
View Assault & Battery deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Date of assault or date of discovery of harm
Alaska applies a 3-year period for civil sexual assault claims. Many states have recently extended or eliminated statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse. Always verify the current law with an attorney, as this area of law has seen significant legislative changes since 2018.
View Sexual Assault deadlines in all states →Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Date abuse occurred or was discovered
Alaska nursing home neglect and abuse claims are governed by the 2-year personal injury statute. The discovery rule is critical — abuse is frequently concealed, and courts often hold the clock starts when the family discovered (or should have discovered) the abuse. Preserve all medical records, facility reports, and communications.
View Nursing Home Abuse deadlines in all states →| Claim type | Alaska | National median | Compared with other states |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 24) |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 4, shorter than 18) |
| Written Contract | 3 years | 6 years | Shorter than typical (longer than 0, shorter than 42) |
| Oral Contract | 3 years | 4 years | Shorter than typical (longer than 1, shorter than 34) |
| Defamation | 2 years | 1 year | Longer than typical (longer than 26, shorter than 7) |
| Wrongful Death | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 16) |
| Property Damage | 6 years | 3 years | Longer than typical (longer than 41, shorter than 1) |
| Fraud | 3 years | 4 years | Shorter than typical (longer than 6, shorter than 26) |
| Slip & Fall | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 24) |
| Dog Bite | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 24) |
| Product Liability | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 25) |
| Assault & Battery | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 23) |
| Sexual Assault | 3 years | 3 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 16) |
| Nursing Home Abuse | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 24) |
Selected deadlines for Alaska (highlighted) alongside other West states, using U.S. Census regions.
| State | Personal injury | Medical malpractice | Written contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 2 years | 2 years | 3 years |
| Arizona | 2 years | 2 years | 6 years |
| Colorado | 2 years | 2 years | 3 years |
| Idaho | 2 years | 2 years | 5 years |
| Montana | 3 years | 3 years | 8 years |
| Nevada | 2 years | 3 years | 6 years |
| New Mexico | 3 years | 3 years | 6 years |
| Utah | 4 years | 4 years | 6 years |
| Wyoming | 4 years | 2 years | 10 years |
| California | 2 years | 3 years | 4 years |
Filing deadlines vary significantly by case type in Alaska. See the specific rules for each type of legal claim.
See how Alaska's deadlines rank nationally for each case type.
Deadlines on this page were cross-checked against multiple published references and last reviewed in October 2026. Laws change, so confirm the current text of any statute at the Alaska legislature's website:
Alaska Statutes (via Justia) →
Links to official state legislature websites. StatuteLimits.com is not affiliated with any state government.
Alaska allows 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070). The clock starts: date of injury.
Alaska gives 2 years for medical malpractice claims (Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070). 10-year statute of repose from date of act
Written contracts: 3 years (Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053). Oral contracts: 3 years (Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053).
Alaska allows 2 years to bring a wrongful death claim (Alaska Stat. § 09.55.580). The clock starts: date of death.
If the deadline passes, the defendant can ask the court to dismiss the case and it usually will, however strong the claim. Some situations pause or extend the deadline (for example the discovery rule, minority tolling or fraudulent concealment). See the exceptions listed for each claim type above, and speak with a licensed Alaska attorney as soon as possible.
StatuteLimits.com. "Alaska Statute of Limitations (2026)." Reviewed October 2026. https://www.statutelimits.com/states/alaska
Statute of limitations rules are complex. Exceptions, tolling rules, and government notice requirements can significantly change your deadline. Consult a licensed Alaska attorney about your specific situation.
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