All civil filing deadlines for Wyoming — official statute citations, plain-English explanations, and key exceptions.
✓ Data reviewed: October 2026Quick answer: Wyoming deadlines at a glance — personal injury: 4 years; medical malpractice: 2 years; written contract: 10 years; oral contract: 8 years; wrongful death: 2 years; defamation: 1 year.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| Case Type | Years to File | Official Statute | Key Exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⚖️ Personal Injury | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required |
| 🏥 Medical Malpractice | 2 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-107 | Discovery rule: 2 years from discovery if earlier than the act-based period |
| 📄 Written Contract | 10 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(i) | — |
| 🗣️ Oral Contract | 8 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(ii) | — |
| 📰 Defamation | 1 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(B) | — |
| 🕊️ Wrongful Death | 2 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-38-102 | — |
| 🏠 Property Damage | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) | — |
| 🔍 Fraud | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(D) | Discovery rule applies |
| 🚶 Slip & Fall | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required |
| 🐕 Dog Bite | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required |
| ⚠️ Product Liability | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required |
| ⚡ Assault & Battery | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required |
| 🛡️ Sexual Assault | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) | Discovery rule for repressed or suppressed memory |
| 🏥 Nursing Home Abuse | 4 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) | Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required |
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
Date of injury
Wyoming gives 4 years for personal injury — more generous than most states.
View Personal Injury deadlines in all states →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-107
Date of act or discovery
Two years from date of act or discovery, whichever provides a longer period.
View Medical Malpractice deadlines in all states →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(i)
Date of breach
No major exceptions noted.
Wyoming gives 10 years to file a written contract claim under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(i). Exceptions and special accrual rules are listed above.
View Written Contract deadlines in all states →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(ii)
Date of breach
No major exceptions noted.
Wyoming gives 8 years to file a oral contract claim under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(ii). Exceptions and special accrual rules are listed above.
View Oral Contract deadlines in all states →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(B)
Date of publication
No major exceptions noted.
Only 1 year for defamation in Wyoming.
View Defamation deadlines in all states →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-38-102
Date of death
No major exceptions noted.
Two years from the date of death.
View Wrongful Death deadlines in all states →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
Date of damage
No major exceptions noted.
Four years for property damage.
View Property Damage deadlines in all states →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(D)
Date of discovery
Four years from discovery of the fraud.
View Fraud deadlines in all states →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property
Wyoming applies the 4-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 →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
Date of bite, attack, or injury
Wyoming applies the 4-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 →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
Date of injury OR date the defect was or should have been discovered
Wyoming product liability claims follow the 4-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 →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
Date of the assault or battery
Civil assault and battery claims in Wyoming are subject to the 4-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 →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
Date of assault or date of discovery of harm
Wyoming applies a 4-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 →Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
Date abuse occurred or was discovered
Wyoming nursing home neglect and abuse claims are governed by the 4-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 | Wyoming | National median | Compared with other states |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 4 years | 2 years | Longer than typical (longer than 44, shorter than 4) |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 4, shorter than 18) |
| Written Contract | 10 years | 6 years | Longer than typical (longer than 42, shorter than 0) |
| Oral Contract | 8 years | 4 years | Longer than typical (longer than 48, shorter than 2) |
| Defamation | 1 year | 1 year | Typical (longer than 0, shorter than 25) |
| Wrongful Death | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 16) |
| Property Damage | 4 years | 3 years | Longer than typical (longer than 30, shorter than 15) |
| Fraud | 4 years | 4 years | Typical (longer than 25, shorter than 18) |
| Slip & Fall | 4 years | 2 years | Longer than typical (longer than 44, shorter than 4) |
| Dog Bite | 4 years | 2 years | Longer than typical (longer than 44, shorter than 4) |
| Product Liability | 4 years | 2 years | Longer than typical (longer than 44, shorter than 3) |
| Assault & Battery | 4 years | 2 years | Longer than typical (longer than 45, shorter than 3) |
| Sexual Assault | 4 years | 3 years | Longer than typical (longer than 35, shorter than 12) |
| Nursing Home Abuse | 4 years | 2 years | Longer than typical (longer than 44, shorter than 4) |
Selected deadlines for Wyoming (highlighted) alongside other West states, using U.S. Census regions.
| State | Personal injury | Medical malpractice | Written contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 4 years | 2 years | 10 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 |
| Alaska | 2 years | 2 years | 3 years |
| California | 2 years | 3 years | 4 years |
Filing deadlines vary significantly by case type in Wyoming. See the specific rules for each type of legal claim.
See how Wyoming'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 Wyoming legislature's website:
Links to official state legislature websites. StatuteLimits.com is not affiliated with any state government.
Wyoming allows 4 years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)). The clock starts: date of injury.
Wyoming gives 2 years for medical malpractice claims (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-107). Discovery rule: 2 years from discovery if earlier than the act-based period
Written contracts: 10 years (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(i)). Oral contracts: 8 years (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(ii)).
Wyoming allows 2 years to bring a wrongful death claim (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-38-102). 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 Wyoming attorney as soon as possible.
StatuteLimits.com. "Wyoming Statute of Limitations (2026)." Reviewed October 2026. https://www.statutelimits.com/states/wyoming
Statute of limitations rules are complex. Exceptions, tolling rules, and government notice requirements can significantly change your deadline. Consult a licensed Wyoming attorney about your specific situation.
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