Connecticut Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type

What Is a Statute of Limitations?

A statute of limitations is a law that sets the maximum amount of time a person has to file a lawsuit or press criminal charges after an event occurs. Once that deadline passes, the claim is generally barred forever. In Connecticut, these deadlines are found primarily in Title 52 (Civil Actions) and Title 54 (Criminal Procedure) of the Connecticut General Statutes.

The purpose of these time limits is to promote fairness. Over time, evidence degrades, witnesses move away, and memories fade. Filing deadlines protect defendants from defending against stale claims while encouraging plaintiffs to act promptly.

Connecticut's statutes of limitations vary depending on whether the case is civil or criminal, and within each category, the time limit changes based on the type of claim or offense.

Connecticut Civil Statute of Limitations

Connecticut's civil statute of limitations sets specific deadlines for filing lawsuits. If you miss the applicable deadline, the defendant can file a motion to dismiss based on the expired statute of limitations. Once the court grants that motion, you lose the right to pursue your claim permanently.

The clock typically starts on the date the act or omission occurred. However, for certain claims involving negligence, malpractice, or latent injuries, Connecticut applies a discovery rule. Under this rule, the limitations period may begin when the injury was first discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.

Personal Injury

Claims for personal injury caused by negligence, reckless or wanton misconduct, or malpractice must be filed within 2 years from the date the injury was first sustained or discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered). However, no action can be brought later than 3 years from the date of the act or omission that caused the injury. This 3-year outer limit functions as a statute of repose. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-584)

For intentional torts such as assault and battery, the general tort statute of limitations of 3 years applies under section 52-577.

Contracts

Connecticut distinguishes between written and oral contracts:

• Written contracts: You have 6 years from the act or default complained of to bring suit. This also applies to actions on accounts and implied contracts. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-576)
• Oral contracts: The deadline is 3 years from the act or default complained of. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-581)

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice claims follow the same framework as other negligence actions under section 52-584. The lawsuit must be filed within 2 years from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. The absolute outer limit is 3 years from the date of the negligent act or omission.

Courts refer to the 2-year window as the statute of limitations and the 3-year boundary as the statute of repose. Both deadlines must be met. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-584)

Wrongful Death

A wrongful death action must be filed within 2 years of the date of death. In addition, the claim must be brought within 5 years of the act or omission that caused the death. The executor or administrator of the deceased person's estate typically brings this action. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-555)

Property Damage

For property damage caused by negligence, reckless or wanton misconduct, or malpractice, the deadline is 2 years from discovery and a maximum of 3 years from the act or omission under section 52-584.

For property damage based on other tort theories, the general 3-year tort statute of limitations under section 52-577 applies.

Product Liability

Product liability claims must be filed within 3 years of the date the injury, death, or property damage was first sustained or discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered). No action may be brought later than 10 years from the date the defendant last parted with possession or control of the product.

A notable exception exists for asbestos-related claims. The 10-year limit does not apply to asbestos cases. Instead, personal injury or death claims involving asbestos must be brought within 80 years of the claimant's last contact with or exposure to asbestos, and property damage claims within 30 years. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-577a)

Defamation (Libel and Slander)

Actions for libel or slander must be brought within 2 years from the date of the defamatory act. The limitations period runs from when the statement was published, not from when the plaintiff learned about it. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-597)

Fraud

Fraud claims fall under the general tort statute and must be filed within 3 years from the date of the act or omission. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-577)

Trespass

Trespass claims also follow the general tort statute with a 3-year filing deadline from the date of the trespass. For continuing trespass, damages can be recovered for the 3 years immediately preceding the filing of the action. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-577)

Judgments

An action to enforce a money judgment in Connecticut must be brought within 20 years of the judgment, though small claims judgments may have different rules. The court also provides a process to revive judgments. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 52-598)

Debt Collection

Actions to collect debts on account follow the same 6-year deadline as written contracts under section 52-576.

Civil Statute of Limitations Summary Table

Case Type	Time Limit	Statute
Personal Injury (negligence)	2 yrs. from discovery; 3 yrs. max from act	section 52-584
Intentional Torts (assault, battery)	3 yrs.	section 52-577
Medical Malpractice	2 yrs. from discovery; 3 yrs. max from act	section 52-584
Wrongful Death	2 yrs. from death; 5 yrs. from act	section 52-555
Written Contracts	6 yrs.	section 52-576
Oral Contracts	3 yrs.	section 52-581
Property Damage (negligence)	2 yrs. from discovery; 3 yrs. max from act	section 52-584
Property Damage (other torts)	3 yrs.	section 52-577
Product Liability	3 yrs. from discovery; 10 yrs. max from sale	section 52-577a
Libel/Slander	2 yrs.	section 52-597
Fraud	3 yrs.	section 52-577
Trespass	3 yrs.	section 52-577
Debt Collection	6 yrs.	section 52-576
Judgments	20 yrs.	section 52-598

Tolling and Exceptions

Connecticut is unusual among U.S. states in that it generally does not toll (pause) the statute of limitations for minors or mentally incapacitated persons in negligence and malpractice cases. This means the clock runs even if the injured person is a child or lacks the mental capacity to bring a lawsuit.

There is one significant exception: for cases involving sexual abuse of minors, the statute of limitations is tolled and extended considerably. (See the criminal statute of limitations section below for details.)

Connecticut does have a savings statute (section 52-592) that allows a plaintiff to refile a case within one year if the original case was dismissed for certain procedural reasons, even if the original statute of limitations has expired.

Connecticut Criminal Statute of Limitations

Connecticut's criminal statute of limitations determines how long prosecutors have to bring charges after an alleged crime takes place. These deadlines are found in Conn. Gen. Stat. section 54-193.

No Time Limit (No Statute of Limitations)

Connecticut imposes no statute of limitations for the following offenses:

• Murder
• Capital felonies (though Connecticut abolished the death penalty prospectively in 2012)
• Any Class A felony
• Sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or sexual assault where the victim was a minor at the time of the offense

For these crimes, the state can bring charges at any point, regardless of how many years have passed.

Sexual Offenses

Connecticut has some of the most detailed criminal statute of limitations rules for sexual offenses:

• Minor victims: No time limit at all for prosecution
• Victims aged 18 to 20: Prosecution must occur within 30 years after the victim turns 21
• Class B felony sexual assault (sections 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70b): 20 years from the offense
• Class C felony sexual assault (sections 53a-71, 53a-72b): 20 years from the offense
• Class D felony sexual assault (section 53a-72a): 20 years from the offense
• Class A misdemeanor sexual assault (section 53a-73a, victim age 21 or older): 10 years from the offense

Connecticut expanded these time limits in recent years, notably extending the misdemeanor sexual assault deadline from 1 year to 10 years.

General Felonies and Misdemeanors

Offense Type	Time Limit
Murder, Class A felony	No limit
Sexual offenses against minors	No limit
Sexual offenses (Class B, C, D felony, adult victims)	20 yrs.
Sexual assault (Class A misdemeanor, victim 21+)	10 yrs.
Other felonies (punishable by 1+ yrs. imprisonment)	5 yrs.
Misdemeanors	1 yr.

Tolling of the Criminal Statute of Limitations

The criminal statute of limitations in Connecticut is tolled (paused) during any period when the accused person is fleeing the state or residing outside Connecticut. This means the clock stops running until the person returns to the state or is otherwise accessible for prosecution. (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 54-193)

Important Considerations

The Discovery Rule

For civil claims involving negligence, malpractice, and product liability, Connecticut uses a discovery rule. The statute of limitations begins running when the plaintiff actually discovers the injury, or when a reasonable person exercising ordinary care should have discovered it. This is particularly important in medical malpractice cases where injuries may not become apparent until well after the treatment occurred.

However, the discovery rule does not override the statute of repose. Even if you could not have reasonably discovered the injury, the hard outer deadline (usually 3 years for malpractice, 10 years for product liability) still applies.

When the Clock Starts

The "triggering event" for the statute of limitations depends on the type of claim:

• Tort claims (section 52-577): The date of the act or omission
• Negligence/malpractice (section 52-584): The earlier of the date of discovery or the repose deadline
• Contracts (sections 52-576, 52-581): The date of the breach or default
• Wrongful death (section 52-555): The date of death (with a separate repose period from the act)
• Criminal offenses (section 54-193): The date the crime was committed

Consequences of Missing the Deadline

If you file a civil lawsuit after the statute of limitations has expired, the defendant can raise it as an affirmative defense and ask the court to dismiss your case. Connecticut courts consistently enforce these deadlines. Once your case is dismissed on statute of limitations grounds, you cannot refile it.

For criminal cases, prosecutors who bring charges after the limitations period has expired face dismissal of those charges. This is a jurisdictional issue that the court can raise on its own.

State laws are always subject to change. While this page aims to provide current information, consider consulting a Connecticut attorney or researching the Connecticut General Statutes directly to verify any deadlines that apply to your situation.

Additional Reading: [How long is a life sentence in Connecticut?](/how-long-is-a-life-sentence/#connecticut)

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