Statute of Limitations

The time limits after which claims or prosecutions may no longer be brought

Overview

Limitation periods, commonly two to six years for civil claims by type, force aggrieved parties to sue while evidence lives and give defendants repose from stale claims. Criminal limitation periods exist for lesser crimes in many systems, while serious offenses like murder typically have none. Clocks can toll during minority or concealment, and discovery rules start time running when hidden harm surfaces. Missed deadlines extinguish rights regardless of merit, making them a first lesson of practice. Limitation law differs sharply by claim type, a trap for unwary claimants everywhere.