Quick answer: Connecticut deadlines at a glance — personal injury: 2 years; medical malpractice: 2 years; written contract: 6 years; oral contract: 3 years; wrongful death: 2 years; defamation: 2 years.

Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Connecticut Filing Deadlines at a Glance

Case TypeYears to FileOfficial StatuteKey Exception
⚖️ Personal Injury2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
🏥 Medical Malpractice2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-5843-year statute of repose from date of act
📄 Written Contract6 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576—
🗣️ Oral Contract3 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-581—
📰 Defamation2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-597—
🕊️ Wrongful Death2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555—
🏠 Property Damage2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577—
🔍 Fraud3 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577Discovery rule applies
🚶 Slip & Fall2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
🐕 Dog Bite2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
⚠️ Product Liability3 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
⚡ Assault & Battery2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
🛡️ Sexual Assault3 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
🏥 Nursing Home Abuse2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required

Connecticut deadlines at a glance

Detailed Connecticut Filing Deadlines

⚖️

Connecticut Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

2
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584

Clock Starts

Date of injury or discovery

Key Exceptions

  • Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
  • Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years

Notes

Connecticut uses a discovery rule — 2 years from when injury was or should have been discovered.

View Personal Injury deadlines in all states →
🏥

Connecticut Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations

2
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584

Clock Starts

Date of act or discovery

Key Exceptions

  • 3-year statute of repose from date of act
  • Claimant must provide Good Faith Certificate

Notes

Connecticut requires a Good Faith Certificate from a similar healthcare provider before filing.

View Medical Malpractice deadlines in all states →
📄

Connecticut Written Contract Statute of Limitations

6
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576

Clock Starts

Date of breach

Key Exceptions

No major exceptions noted.

Notes

Six years for written contracts.

View Written Contract deadlines in all states →
🗣️

Connecticut Oral Contract Statute of Limitations

3
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-581

Clock Starts

Date of breach

Key Exceptions

No major exceptions noted.

Notes

Connecticut gives 3 years to file a oral contract claim under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-581. Exceptions and special accrual rules are listed above.

View Oral Contract deadlines in all states →
📰

Connecticut Defamation Statute of Limitations

2
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-597

Clock Starts

Date of publication

Key Exceptions

No major exceptions noted.

Notes

Two years for libel and slander claims.

View Defamation deadlines in all states →
🕊️

Connecticut Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

2
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555

Clock Starts

Date of death

Key Exceptions

No major exceptions noted.

Notes

Two years from the date of death to bring a wrongful death action.

View Wrongful Death deadlines in all states →
🏠

Connecticut Property Damage Statute of Limitations

2
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577

Clock Starts

Date of damage

Key Exceptions

No major exceptions noted.

Notes

Connecticut gives 2 years to file a property damage claim under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577. Exceptions and special accrual rules are listed above.

View Property Damage deadlines in all states →
🔍

Connecticut Fraud Statute of Limitations

3
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577

Clock Starts

Date of discovery

Key Exceptions

  • Discovery rule applies

Notes

Three years from discovery of the fraud.

View Fraud deadlines in all states →
🚶

Connecticut Slip & Fall Statute of Limitations

2
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584

Clock Starts

Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property

Key Exceptions

  • Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
  • Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years
  • Property owner must have had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition

Notes

Connecticut 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 →
🐕

Connecticut Dog Bite Statute of Limitations

2
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584

Clock Starts

Date of bite, attack, or injury

Key Exceptions

  • Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
  • Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years
  • Some states impose strict liability on owners regardless of the dog's prior history

Notes

Connecticut 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 →
⚠️

Connecticut Product Liability Statute of Limitations

3
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584

Clock Starts

Date of injury OR date the defect was or should have been discovered

Key Exceptions

  • Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
  • Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years
  • Discovery rule may extend start date for latent product defects
  • Defective design, manufacturing defect, or failure-to-warn claims each have own accrual rules
  • 10-year product liability repose (C.G.S. § 52-577a(a))

Notes

Connecticut gives 3 years to file a product liability claim under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584. Exceptions and special accrual rules are listed above. The discovery rule typically applies to latent defects; check any statute of repose measured from sale.

View Product Liability deadlines in all states →
⚡

Connecticut Assault & Battery Statute of Limitations

2
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584

Clock Starts

Date of the assault or battery

Key Exceptions

  • Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
  • Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years
  • Criminal prosecution of the defendant does not pause the civil SOL
  • Evidence from criminal proceedings may be usable in civil case
  • Some states apply a different (often shorter) period to intentional torts such as assault and battery. Confirm the rule for your state with an attorney.

Notes

Civil assault and battery claims in Connecticut 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 →
🛡️

Connecticut Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations

3
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584

Clock Starts

Date of assault or date of discovery of harm

Key Exceptions

  • Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory
  • Minors: tolled until age 18, then extended period in many states
  • Many states have recently eliminated or extended SOL for childhood sexual abuse — verify current law

Notes

Connecticut 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 →
🏥

Connecticut Nursing Home Abuse Statute of Limitations

2
Years to File

Official Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584

Clock Starts

Date abuse occurred or was discovered

Key Exceptions

  • Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
  • Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years
  • Discovery rule applies when abuse was hidden or not immediately apparent
  • Mental or cognitive incapacity of the resident may toll the period
  • Federal LTCOP (Long-Term Care Ombudsman) complaints are separate from civil lawsuits

Notes

Connecticut 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 →

How Connecticut compares with other states

Claim typeConnecticutNational medianCompared with other states
Personal Injury2 years2 yearsTypical (longer than 2, shorter than 24)
Medical Malpractice2 years2 yearsTypical (longer than 4, shorter than 18)
Written Contract6 years6 yearsTypical (longer than 19, shorter than 10)
Oral Contract3 years4 yearsShorter than typical (longer than 1, shorter than 34)
Defamation2 years1 yearLonger than typical (longer than 26, shorter than 7)
Wrongful Death2 years2 yearsTypical (longer than 2, shorter than 16)
Property Damage2 years3 yearsShorter than typical (longer than 1, shorter than 38)
Fraud3 years4 yearsShorter than typical (longer than 6, shorter than 26)
Slip & Fall2 years2 yearsTypical (longer than 2, shorter than 24)
Dog Bite2 years2 yearsTypical (longer than 2, shorter than 24)
Product Liability3 years2 yearsLonger than typical (longer than 26, shorter than 7)
Assault & Battery2 years2 yearsTypical (longer than 2, shorter than 23)
Sexual Assault3 years3 yearsTypical (longer than 2, shorter than 16)
Nursing Home Abuse2 years2 yearsTypical (longer than 2, shorter than 24)

Connecticut and other Northeast states

Selected deadlines for Connecticut (highlighted) alongside other Northeast states, using U.S. Census regions.

StatePersonal injuryMedical malpracticeWritten contract
Connecticut2 years2 years6 years
Maine6 years3 years6 years
Massachusetts3 years3 years6 years
New Hampshire3 years3 years3 years
Rhode Island3 years3 years10 years
Vermont3 years3 years6 years
New Jersey2 years2 years6 years
New York3 years2.5 years6 years
Pennsylvania2 years2 years4 years

Calculate Your Connecticut Filing Deadline

All Case Types in Connecticut

Filing deadlines vary significantly by case type in Connecticut. See the specific rules for each type of legal claim.

Compare Connecticut With All 50 States

See how Connecticut's deadlines rank nationally for each case type.

📋 Verify These Statutes Directly

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 Connecticut legislature's website:

Connecticut General Statutes →

Links to official state legislature websites. StatuteLimits.com is not affiliated with any state government.

Connecticut Statute of Limitations: Common Questions

Connecticut allows 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584). The clock starts: date of injury or discovery.

Connecticut gives 2 years for medical malpractice claims (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584). 3-year statute of repose from date of act

Written contracts: 6 years (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576). Oral contracts: 3 years (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-581).

Connecticut allows 2 years to bring a wrongful death claim (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555). 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 Connecticut attorney as soon as possible.

Terms used on this page

Accrual
Accrual is the moment a legal claim is considered to "begin" for deadline purposes, usually the date of injury or breach, though some states start the clock later.
Discovery rule
A rule that delays the start of the clock until the plaintiff knew, or reasonably should have known, about the harm and its cause.
Tolling
A legal pause or extension of the filing deadline, for example while a plaintiff is a minor or the defendant hides the wrong.

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StatuteLimits.com. "Connecticut Statute of Limitations (2026)." Reviewed October 2026. https://www.statutelimits.com/states/connecticut

Don't Risk Missing Your Deadline

Statute of limitations rules are complex. Exceptions, tolling rules, and government notice requirements can significantly change your deadline. Consult a licensed Connecticut attorney about your specific situation.

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⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This website provides general legal information for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. Always verify the current law and consult a licensed attorney in your state before making any legal decisions.