- March 8, 2011
- Posted by: Seth Heyman
- Categories: Business Law, Contract Law
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It is often said that promises are made to be broken, and contracts are nothing more than promises that can be enforced in a court of law. But they’re not enforceable forever. Each state has a statute of limitations that limits the time period for bringing legal claims (called the “limitations period”), which varies depending upon the type of lawsuit. Suits that are brought after the limitations period expires will be dismissed. In the case of breach of contract actions, the limitations period often varies depending upon whether the breached contract is written or oral, as well as the type of injury the non-breaching party has suffered (economic or personal injury or property damage).
| State | Written Contract | Oral Contract | Injury Claim | Property Damage Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Alaska | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 (real property) 2 (personal property) |
| Arizona | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Arkansas | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| California | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Colorado | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Connecticut | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Delaware | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| D.C. | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Florida | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Georgia | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Hawaii | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Idaho | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Illinois | 10 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Indiana | 10 | 6 | 2 | 6 (real property) 2 (personal property) |
| Iowa | 10 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Kansas | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Kentucky | 15 | 5 | 1 | 5 (real property) 2 (personal property) |
| Iowa | 10 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Kansas | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Kentucky | 15 | 5 | 1 | 5 (real property) 2 (personal property) |
| Louisiana | 10 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Maine | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Maryland | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Massachusetts | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Michigan | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Minnesota | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Mississippi | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Missouri | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Montana | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Nebraska | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Nevada | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| New Jersey | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| New Mexico | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| New York | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| North Dakota | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Ohio | 15 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Oregon | 6 | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Rhode Island | 10 | 10 | 3 | 10 |
| South Carolina | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| South Dakota | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Tennessee | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Texas | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Utah | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Vermont | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Virginia | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Washington | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| West Virginia | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Wisconsin | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Wyoming | 10 | 8 | 4 | 4 |