Statute of Limitations Calculator
Check if your legal claim has expired. Select incident date, case type, and state to calculate filing deadlines for civil lawsuits.
Built for general U.S. informational use. Local rules, court practices, and case facts can change the result.
Statute of Limitations Calculator
Fill in the fields below to get your estimate
Why Deadlines Matter in Law
In the legal system, timing is everything. If you are injured in a car crash, you cannot simply wait 10 years to decide to sue the at-fault driver. The statute of limitations ensures that lawsuits are filed while evidence is still fresh and witnesses' memories are reliable.
Every state has its own schedule of limitations. For example, a breach of written contract claim gives you 4 years in California, but 6 years in New York. A personal injury claim is generally 2 years in Texas, but 3 years in Massachusetts.
This calculator provides the standard statutory limit. It does not account for tolling, the discovery rule, or notice of claim requirements against government agencies. If you approach a deadline, attorneys may decline your case because they don't have time to investigate. Seek legal counsel immediately if you suspect you have a claim.
How this estimate works
This deadline tool estimates a filing window from the triggering date and the selected claim type. It is helpful for spotting urgency, but real deadlines may change because of tolling, discovery rules, notice requirements, or special parties.
Inputs this page weighs
- The event, injury, discovery, or notice date.
- The legal category of the claim.
- Any government-party or minor-status issue.
- Court holidays or service-related timing details.
How to verify the result
Check the deadline against your state statute, court rules, and any required pre-suit notice before waiting or filing.
How to use this Statute of Limitations Calculator well
Best used when
- Spotting whether a claim may be close to a filing deadline.
- Comparing injury, discovery, or notice dates in a rough planning timeline.
- Creating urgency around a claim that should not wait on casual research.
Be careful if
- Tolling rules, government-notice requirements, and discovery issues can change the deadline.
- The date you think a claim started is not always the legally controlling date.
- Missing even a short special-notice window can matter more than the main filing limit.
Questions to answer next
- What exact event triggers the legal clock in your type of claim?
- Is any government body, minor status, incapacity, or late discovery involved?
- What official court or agency source can confirm the real deadline immediately?
Before you use a procedural calculator
What to gather first
- The exact dates, notices, contracts, or lease terms that control the issue.
- Court papers or agency notices that show how service, filing, or notice was handled.
- Any local rule, county form, or deadline notice connected to your matter.
Why results may change
- Court calendars, service rules, holidays, and local forms often change practical deadlines.
- A small date error can create a large legal problem, especially when filing windows are short.
- Many procedural tools assume a standard timeline and may not account for special exceptions.
Best next step
- Confirm the estimate against the notice you received and the court or agency instructions.
- Write down the assumptions the calculator used, especially dates and notice periods.
- Get direct legal help quickly if you are close to a deadline or facing eviction, garnishment, or default.