| Your estimated deadline | |
|---|---|
| Limitations period used | |
| Date of incident | |
| Estimated filing deadline | |
| Time remaining | |
Even a verified period would not settle this date. Statutes of limitations have exceptions and tolling rules — the clock can pause or restart for minors, out-of-state defendants, partial payments, written acknowledgments of debt, the "discovery rule," government defendants (much shorter notice deadlines), and more. None of that is modelled above. Confirm your deadline with your state court's self-help center or a licensed attorney.
Don't let the clock run out.
Filing is what stops the statute of limitations. Get your complete package — your claim drafted for your state’s court (the completed form draft, or the content for your court’s own form), a word-for-word judge script, and an evidence checklist — for a one-time $19, so you can file this week.
Check if your claim qualifies →How statutes of limitations work
- The clock usually starts on the date of the incident, the breach, or the missed payment — not the day you decided to sue.
- Different claims, different clocks. Written contracts usually get the longest window; personal injury and property damage are often much shorter.
- Filing stops the clock. What matters is when your claim is filed with the court, not when the hearing happens. If your deadline is close, file first and prepare after.
- Suing a government body? Special notice-of-claim rules apply with deadlines as short as 30–90 days. Don't rely on the general periods above.
Not sure the case is worth filing? Run the numbers with the free worth-it calculator, and send a free demand letter — just don't let a settlement attempt eat your remaining time.
Where to confirm your filing deadline, state by state
Every state and the District of Columbia, with the court that hears small claims there and the official source to check your deadline against. The middle column carries a limitations period only where one has been read off that state's statute, with the citation and the date checked.
Some cells below are still empty, and that is deliberate. A period appears only where it was read off the primary statute and recorded with its citation. Six states are blank because their codified law is not published for free anywhere — Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Tennessee — and a handful of individual claim types are blank because the statute genuinely splits (real versus personal property, for instance) and picking one side would be inventing law. Printing a commonly-published number in those gaps would dress an unverified figure up as settled law. A limitations period is the single figure in this process where an approximate answer is worth nothing: file one day late and the claim is gone, with no way to revive it. Where a cell is blank, use the official source linked for that state.
| State | Court that hears small claims | Limitations period on record | Confirm your deadline with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Small Claims Court (District Court div.) | Written contract: 6 yearsAla. Code § 6-2-34(4), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 3 years for money due on an open or unliquidated account — Ala. Code § 6-2-37(1). Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsAla. Code § 6-2-34(9), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 3 years for claims on an open or unliquidated account — Ala. Code § 6-2-37(1). Damage to property: 6 yearsAla. Code § 6-2-34(2), (3), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsAla. Code § 6-2-38(l), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsAla. Code § 6-2-37(1), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 6 years where the debt is founded on a promise in writing — Ala. Code § 6-2-34(4). |
Confirm your deadlineAlabama small claims guide |
| Alaska | District Court (Small Claims) | Written contract: 3 yearsAS 09.10.053, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsAS 09.10.053, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsAlaska Stat. § 09.10.070(a)(3), verified 2026-08-25 Personal injury: 2 yearsAS 09.10.070(a)(2), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsAlaska Stat. § 09.10.053, verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineAlaska small claims guide |
| Arizona | Justice Court, Small Claims Division | Written contract: 6 yearsA.R.S. § 12-548(A)(1), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsA.R.S. § 12-543(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsA.R.S. § 12-542(3), (4), (5), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsA.R.S. § 12-542(1), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsA.R.S. § 12-543(1)-(2), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 6 years where the indebtedness is evidenced by a contract in writing — A.R.S. § 12-548(A)(1). |
Confirm your deadlineArizona small claims guide |
| Arkansas | District Court, Small Claims Division | Written contract: 5 yearsArk. Code Ann. § 16-56-111(a), verified 2026-08-25 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsArk. Code Ann. § 16-56-105(1), verified 2026-08-10 Damage to property: 3 yearsArk. Code Ann. § 16-56-105(4), (6), verified 2026-08-25 Personal injury: 3 yearsArk. Code Ann. § 16-56-105, verified 2026-08-10 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsArk. Code Ann. § 16-56-105(1), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 5 years where the debt is on a written contract — Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111(a). |
Confirm your deadlineArkansas small claims guide |
| California | Superior Court — Small Claims Division | Written contract: 4 yearsCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337(a), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 2 yearsCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 339(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338(b), (c)(1), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1, verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 2 yearsCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 339(1), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 4 years where the debt is carried on a book account, on an account stated based on a written account, or on a mutual open and current account whose items are in writing — Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337(b). |
Confirm your deadlineCalifornia small claims guide |
| Colorado | Small Claims Court (County Court div.) | Written contract: 3 yearsC.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(a), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 6 years where the claim is for a liquidated debt or an unliquidated but determinable amount of money due — C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a). Arrears of rent are also 6 years under (1)(b). Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsC.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(a), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 6 years where the claim is for a liquidated debt or an unliquidated but determinable amount of money due — C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a). Arrears of rent are also 6 years under (1)(b). Damage to property: 2 yearsC.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsC.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsC.R.S. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a), verified 2026-08-25⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 3 years if the sum owed is neither liquidated nor determinable, in which case the general contract period in C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(a) applies instead. |
Confirm your deadlineColorado small claims guide |
| Connecticut | Superior Court, Small Claims Session | Written contract: 6 yearsConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576(a), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-581(a), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584, verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576(a), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineConnecticut small claims guide |
| Delaware | Justice of the Peace Court (civil) | Written contract: 3 years10 Del. C. § 8106(a), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 years10 Del. C. § 8106(a), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 years10 Del. C. § 8107, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 years10 Del. C. § 8119, verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 years10 Del. C. § 8106(a), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineDelaware small claims guide |
| District of Columbia | DC Superior Court, Small Claims & Conciliation Branch | Written contract: 3 yearsD.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsD.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsD.C. Code § 12-301(a)(3), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsD.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsD.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineDistrict of Columbia small claims guide |
| Florida | County Court (Small Claims Rules) | Written contract: 5 yearsFla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 yearsFla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(j), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsFla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a), verified 2026-08-25 Personal injury: 2 yearsFla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 4 yearsFla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(j), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 5 years where the debt is founded on a written instrument — Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b). |
Confirm your deadlineFlorida small claims guide |
| Georgia | Magistrate Court | Written contract: 6 yearsO.C.G.A. § 9-3-24, verified 2026-08-10 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 yearsO.C.G.A. § 9-3-25, verified 2026-08-10 Damage to property: 4 yearsO.C.G.A. § 9-3-31, verified 2026-08-10 Personal injury: 2 yearsO.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, verified 2026-08-10 Unpaid debt or account: 4 yearsO.C.G.A. § 9-3-25, verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 6 years where the debt is on a written contract signed by the party to be charged — O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24. |
Confirm your deadlineGeorgia small claims guide |
| Hawaii | District Court, Small Claims Division | Written contract: 6 yearsHaw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1(1), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsHaw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsHaw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsHaw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7, verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsHaw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1(1), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineHawaii small claims guide |
| Idaho | Magistrate Div., Small Claims Dept. | Written contract: 5 yearsIdaho Code § 5-216, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 yearsIdaho Code § 5-217, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsIdaho Code § 5-218(2), (3), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsIdaho Code § 5-219(4), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 4 yearsIdaho Code § 5-217, verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 5 years where the debt is founded upon an instrument of writing — Idaho Code § 5-216. |
Confirm your deadlineIdaho small claims guide |
| Illinois | Circuit Court (Small Claims, SCR 281–289) | Written contract: 10 years735 ILCS 5/13-206, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 5 years735 ILCS 5/13-205, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 5 years735 ILCS 5/13-205, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 years735 ILCS 5/13-202, verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 5 years735 ILCS 5/13-205, verified 2026-08-25⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 4 years where the debt arises from a contract for the sale of goods, under UCC § 2-725, which 13-205 expressly excepts. A debt on a written contract instead runs 10 years under 735 ILCS 5/13-206. |
Confirm your deadlineIllinois small claims guide |
| Indiana | Small claims docket (Circuit/Superior; Marion Co. township courts) | Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsInd. Code § 34-11-2-7(1), verified 2026-08-10 Damage to property: 2 yearsInd. Code § 34-11-2-4(a)(2), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 6 years for injury to property OTHER than personal property — Ind. Code § 34-11-2-7(3). Personal injury: 2 yearsInd. Code § 34-11-2-4(a)(1), verified 2026-08-10 |
Confirm your deadlineIndiana small claims guide |
| Iowa | District Court, Small Claims | Written contract: 10 yearsIowa Code § 614.1(5)(a), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 5 yearsIowa Code § 614.1(4), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 5 yearsIowa Code § 614.1(4), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsIowa Code § 614.1(2), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 5 yearsIowa Code § 614.1(4), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 10 years where the debt is on a written contract — Iowa Code § 614.1(5)(a). |
Confirm your deadlineIowa small claims guide |
| Kansas | District Court (small claims procedure) | Written contract: 5 yearsK.S.A. 60-511(1), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsK.S.A. 60-512(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsK.S.A. 60-513(a)(1), (a)(2), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsK.S.A. 60-513(a)(4), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsK.S.A. 60-512(1), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 5 years where the obligation is in writing — K.S.A. 60-511(1). |
Confirm your deadlineKansas small claims guide |
| Kentucky | District Court, Small Claims Division | Written contract: 10 yearsKy. Rev. Stat. § 413.160, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 5 yearsKy. Rev. Stat. § 413.120(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsKy. Rev. Stat. § 413.125, verified 2026-08-25 Personal injury: 1 yearKy. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 5 yearsKy. Rev. Stat. § 413.120(1), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 10 years where the debt is on a written contract — Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.160. |
Confirm your deadlineKentucky small claims guide |
| Louisiana | City Court (Small Claims) / Parish Court / JP Court | Written contract: 10 yearsLa. Civ. Code art. 3499, verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 3 years for compensation for services, arrearages of rent, money lent, and open accounts — La. Civ. Code art. 3494. Oral / verbal agreement: 10 yearsLa. Civ. Code art. 3499, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsLa. Civ. Code art. 3493.1, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsLa. Civ. Code art. 3493.1, verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 1 year for injuries occurring before July 1, 2024, under the since-repealed arts. 3492/3493. Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsLa. Civ. Code art. 3494(3)-(4), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineLouisiana small claims guide |
| Maine | District Court (Small Claims) | Written contract: 6 years14 M.R.S. sec. 752, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 6 years14 M.R.S. sec. 752, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 6 years14 M.R.S. sec. 752, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 6 years14 M.R.S. sec. 752, verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 3 years for professional negligence by a health care provider or practitioner — 24 M.R.S. § 2902, which runs from the act or omission, not from discovery. Unpaid debt or account: 6 years14 M.R.S. § 752, verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineMaine small claims guide |
| Maryland | District Court of Maryland (small claims) | Written contract: 3 yearsMd. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. sec. 5-101, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsMd. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. sec. 5-101, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsMd. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. sec. 5-101, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsMd. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. sec. 5-101, verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 1 year for assault, libel, or slander — Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-105. Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsMd. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineMaryland small claims guide |
| Massachusetts | District Court / BMC / Housing Court, Small Claims Session | Written contract: 6 yearsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2, verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 3 years where the contract action seeks recovery for personal injuries — Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A. Damage to property: 3 yearsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2, verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineMassachusetts small claims guide |
| Michigan | District Court, Small Claims Division | Written contract: 6 yearsMCL 600.5807(9), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsMCL 600.5807(9), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsMCL 600.5805(2), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsMCL 600.5805(2), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 2 years for assault, battery or false imprisonment (subsec. 3) and for malpractice (subsec. 8); 1 year for libel or slander (subsec. 11) — all in MCL 600.5805. Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsMCL 600.5807(9), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineMichigan small claims guide |
| Minnesota | Conciliation Court (District Court div.) | Written contract: 6 yearsMinn. Stat. sec. 541.05, subd. 1(1), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 4 years for a contract for the sale of goods, under the UCC — Minn. Stat. § 336.2-725. Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsMinn. Stat. sec. 541.05, subd. 1(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 6 yearsMinn. Stat. sec. 541.05, subd. 1(3)-(4), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 2 years against a pesticide applicator for injury from the application (§ 541.07 subd. 7), and 2 years for damage from a non-commercial dam (subd. 3); product strict-liability claims are 4 years (§ 541.05 subd. 2). Personal injury: 6 yearsMinn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(5), verified 2026-08-25⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 2 years for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or other tort resulting in personal injury — Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1). Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsMinn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(1), verified 2026-08-25⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 4 years where the debt arises from a contract for the sale of goods, under the UCC — Minn. Stat. § 336.2-725. |
Confirm your deadlineMinnesota small claims guide |
| Mississippi | Justice Court | Written contract: 3 yearsMiss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49(1), verified 2026-08-10 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsMiss. Code Ann. § 15-1-29, verified 2026-08-10 Damage to property: 3 yearsMiss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49(1), verified 2026-08-10 Personal injury: 3 yearsMiss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49(1), verified 2026-08-10 |
Confirm your deadlineMississippi small claims guide |
| Missouri | Small Claims Court (Circuit Court assoc. div.) | Written contract: 10 yearsMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.110(1), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 5 years under § 516.120(1) where the breach is not a failure to pay money or deliver property — the 10-year period reaches only 'any writing … for the payment of money or property'. Oral / verbal agreement: 5 yearsMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 5 yearsMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(3), (4), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 5 yearsMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 5 yearsMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(1), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 10 years where the debt is on a writing for the payment of money or property — Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.110(1). |
Confirm your deadlineMissouri small claims guide |
| Montana | Justice Court, Small Claims Division (City Court in some cities) | Written contract: 6 yearsMont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1), verified 2026-08-25 Oral / verbal agreement: 5 yearsMont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsMont. Code Ann. § 27-2-207, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsMont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(1), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 5 yearsMont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 8 years where the debt is founded on an instrument in writing — Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1). |
Confirm your deadlineMontana small claims guide |
| Nebraska | County Court, Small Claims division | Written contract: 5 yearsNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205(1), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 yearsNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-206, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 4 yearsNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207(1)–(2), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 4 yearsNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207(3), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 4 yearsNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-206, verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 5 years where the debt is on a written contract — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205(1). |
Confirm your deadlineNebraska small claims guide |
| Nevada | Justice Court (small claims) | Written contract: 6 yearsNev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(1)(b), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 yearsNev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(2)(c), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsNev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(3)(b), (c), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsNev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 4 yearsNev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(2)(a)-(b), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 6 years where the debt is founded on an instrument in writing — Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(1)(b). |
Confirm your deadlineNevada small claims guide |
| New Hampshire | Circuit Court, District Division (Small Claims) | Written contract: 3 yearsN.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4, I, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsN.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4, I, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsN.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4, I, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsN.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4, I, verified 2026-07-30 |
Confirm your deadlineNew Hampshire small claims guide |
| New Jersey | Superior Court, Special Civil Part, Small Claims Section | Written contract: 6 yearsN.J.S.A. 2A:14-1(a), verified 2026-08-10 Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsN.J.S.A. 2A:14-1(a), verified 2026-08-10 Damage to property: 6 yearsN.J.S.A. 2A:14-1(a), verified 2026-08-10 Personal injury: 2 yearsN.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a), verified 2026-08-10 |
Confirm your deadlineNew Jersey small claims guide |
| New Mexico | Magistrate Court (Bernalillo: Metropolitan Court) | Written contract: 6 yearsN.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-3(A), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 yearsN.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-4, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 4 yearsN.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-4, verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsN.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8, verified 2026-07-30 |
Confirm your deadlineNew Mexico small claims guide |
| New York | NYC Civil Court / City Court / Town & Village Justice Court | Written contract: 6 yearsN.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 4 years for a sale of goods under UCC article 2; CPLR 213(2) also names CPLR 213-a, 214-i and GBL article 36-B as carve-outs. Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsN.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsN.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(4), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsN.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 1 year for the intentional torts in CPLR 215, and 2 years 6 months for medical, dental or podiatric malpractice under CPLR 214-a. Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsN.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2), verified 2026-08-25⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 4 years where the debt arises from a sale of goods under UCC article 2, which § 213(2) expressly excepts. |
Confirm your deadlineNew York small claims guide |
| North Carolina | Small Claims Court (District Court div., magistrate) | Written contract: 3 yearsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(3), (4), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineNorth Carolina small claims guide |
| North Dakota | Small Claims Court (District Court branch) | Written contract: 6 yearsN.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(1), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsN.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 6 yearsN.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(3), (4), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 6 yearsN.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(5), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsN.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(1), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineNorth Dakota small claims guide |
| Ohio | Small Claims Division, Municipal/County Court | Written contract: 6 yearsOhio Rev. Code § 2305.06, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 yearsOhio Rev. Code § 2305.07(A), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsOhio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A), verified 2026-08-25 Personal injury: 2 yearsOhio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 4 yearsOhio Rev. Code § 2305.07(A), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 6 years where the debt is on a written contract — Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06. |
Confirm your deadlineOhio small claims guide |
| Oklahoma | District Court, Small Claims Division | Written contract: 5 yearsOkla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(1), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsOkla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(2), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsOkla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsOkla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsOkla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(2), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 5 years where the debt is on a written contract — Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(1). |
Confirm your deadline — no official link on recordOklahoma small claims guide |
| Oregon | Circuit Court, Small Claims Dept. | Written contract: 6 yearsOr. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(1), verified 2026-08-25 Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsOr. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(1), verified 2026-08-25 Damage to property: 6 yearsOr. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3), (4), verified 2026-08-25 Personal injury: 2 yearsOr. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1), verified 2026-08-25 Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsOr. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(1), verified 2026-08-25⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 4 years where the debt arises from a contract for the sale of goods — Or. Rev. Stat. § 72.7250, which § 12.080(1) expressly yields to. |
Confirm your deadlineOregon small claims guide |
| Pennsylvania | Magisterial District Court (Philadelphia: Municipal Court) | Written contract: 4 years42 Pa.C.S. § 5525(a)(8), verified 2026-08-25 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 years42 Pa.C.S. § 5525(a)(3), verified 2026-08-25 Damage to property: 2 years42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(3), (4), verified 2026-08-25 Personal injury: 2 years42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2), verified 2026-08-25 Unpaid debt or account: 4 years42 Pa.C.S. § 5525(a)(3)-(4), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlinePennsylvania small claims guide |
| Rhode Island | District Court, Small Claims Division | Written contract: 10 yearsR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 10 yearsR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 10 yearsR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 1 year for words spoken (slander) under § 9-1-14(a); malpractice is governed separately by § 9-1-14.1. Unpaid debt or account: 10 yearsR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineRhode Island small claims guide |
| South Carolina | Magistrate Court (civil) | Written contract: 3 yearsS.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsS.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsS.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(3), (4), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsS.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsS.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineSouth Carolina small claims guide |
| South Dakota | Magistrate Court (Small Claims), UJS | Written contract: 6 yearsS.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 2 years for wage claims (§ 15-2-15(3)–(4)) and 4 years for a UCC sale of goods (§ 57A-2-725). Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsS.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 6 yearsS.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(3), (4), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsS.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14(3), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 2 years for libel, slander, assault, battery, or false imprisonment — S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-15(1). Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsS.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineSouth Dakota small claims guide |
| Tennessee | General Sessions Court (civil) | Written contract: 6 yearsTenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3), verified 2026-08-10 Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsTenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3), verified 2026-08-10 Damage to property: 3 yearsTenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105(1), verified 2026-08-10 Personal injury: 1 yearTenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1)(A), verified 2026-08-10 |
Confirm your deadlineTennessee small claims guide |
| Texas | Justice Court (JP) | Written contract: 4 yearsTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051 (see also § 16.004(a)(3)), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 yearsTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051 (see also § 16.004(a)(3)), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 4 yearsTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004(a)(3), verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineTexas small claims guide |
| Utah | Justice Court (District Court in Cache County) | Written contract: 6 yearsUtah Code § 78B-2-309(1)(b), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 4 yearsUtah Code § 78B-2-307(1)(a), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsUtah Code § 78B-2-305(1)(a)(i)-(ii), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 4 yearsUtah Code § 78B-2-307(4), verified 2026-07-30 |
Confirm your deadlineUtah small claims guide |
| Vermont | Superior Court, Civil Division (small claims) | Written contract: 6 years12 V.S.A. § 511, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 6 years12 V.S.A. § 511, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 years12 V.S.A. § 512(5), verified 2026-08-25 Personal injury: 3 years12 V.S.A. § 512(4), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 6 years12 V.S.A. § 511, verified 2026-08-25 |
Confirm your deadlineVermont small claims guide |
| Virginia | General District Court, Small Claims Division | Written contract: 5 yearsVa. Code § 8.01-246(2), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsVa. Code § 8.01-246(4), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 5 yearsVa. Code § 8.01-243(B), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsVa. Code § 8.01-243(A), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsVa. Code § 8.01-246(4), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 5 years for an account concerning the trade of merchandise between merchant and merchant, running from the cessation of their dealings — Va. Code § 8.01-246(3). |
Confirm your deadlineVirginia small claims guide |
| Washington | District Court, Small Claims Dept. | Written contract: 6 yearsRCW 4.16.040(1), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 3 yearsRCW 4.16.080(3), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 3 yearsRCW 4.16.080(1)-(2), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 3 yearsRCW 4.16.080(2), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 2 years for libel, slander, assault, battery, and false imprisonment — RCW 4.16.100. Unpaid debt or account: 3 yearsRCW 4.16.080(3), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 6 years where the debt is an account receivable incurred in the ordinary course of the claimant's business or profession — RCW 4.16.040(2). |
Confirm your deadlineWashington small claims guide |
| West Virginia | Magistrate Court | Written contract: 10 yearsW. Va. Code § 55-2-6, verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 5 yearsW. Va. Code § 55-2-6, verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 2 yearsW. Va. Code § 55-2-12(a), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 2 yearsW. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 5 yearsW. Va. Code § 55-2-6, verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 10 years where the debt is on a contract in writing signed by the party to be charged, or under seal — W. Va. Code § 55-2-6. |
Confirm your deadlineWest Virginia small claims guide |
| Wisconsin | Circuit Court (Small Claims, ch. 799) | Written contract: 6 yearsWis. Stat. § 893.43(1), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 3 years on a motor-vehicle insurance policy — Wis. Stat. § 632.32(1). Oral / verbal agreement: 6 yearsWis. Stat. § 893.43(1), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 6 yearsWis. Stat. § 893.52(1), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 3 years where the damage arises from an accident involving a motor vehicle — Wis. Stat. § 893.52(2). That catches most car-damage claims. Personal injury: 3 yearsWis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)(a), verified 2026-07-30⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 2 years for wrongful death arising from a motor-vehicle accident — Wis. Stat. § 893.54(2m). Unpaid debt or account: 6 yearsWis. Stat. § 893.43(1), verified 2026-08-25⚠ A shorter deadline may apply: 3 years on a motor-vehicle insurance policy — Wis. Stat. § 893.43(2), via s. 632.32(1). |
Confirm your deadlineWisconsin small claims guide |
| Wyoming | Circuit Court (small claims) | Written contract: 10 yearsWyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(i), verified 2026-07-30 Oral / verbal agreement: 8 yearsWyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(ii)(A), verified 2026-07-30 Damage to property: 4 yearsWyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(A), (B), verified 2026-07-30 Personal injury: 4 yearsWyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C), verified 2026-07-30 Unpaid debt or account: 8 yearsWyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(ii)(A), verified 2026-08-25A longer deadline may apply in some cases: 10 years where the debt is on a contract in writing — Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(i). |
Confirm your deadlineWyoming small claims guide |
This tool provides general information based on standard published limitations periods and is not legal advice. Deadlines vary by claim details, can change by statute, and are subject to exceptions and tolling. SmallClaimsHelper is not a law firm. Always verify your deadline with your local court or a licensed attorney — especially if it appears close or passed.
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