Minnesota Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type

Minnesota law sets strict time limits on when you can file a lawsuit or when the state can bring criminal charges. These deadlines are called statutes of limitations. If you miss the filing window, you lose the right to pursue your claim or the state loses the ability to prosecute.

Understanding these deadlines matters whether you are considering a personal injury lawsuit, dealing with a contract dispute, or facing potential criminal charges. Minnesota organizes its civil limitations periods primarily in Chapter 541 of the Minnesota Statutes and its criminal limitations in Section 628.26.

This guide breaks down every major civil and criminal statute of limitations in Minnesota with the specific statutory references so you can verify each deadline yourself.

Minnesota Civil Statute of Limitations

Minnesota's civil statute of limitations sets deadlines for filing lawsuits and other civil actions. These limits range from two to ten years depending on the type of case. The clock typically starts on the date the injury or harm occurs, or in some cases, on the date you discover (or reasonably should have discovered) the harm.

If you fail to file your civil claim before the deadline, the opposing party can raise the statute of limitations as a defense. The court will then dismiss your case, and you will lose your legal claim permanently.

Personal Injury (2 Years)

Under Minn. Stat. 541.07, you have two years to file a lawsuit for personal injury claims. This includes:

• Assault and battery
• False imprisonment
• Other torts resulting in bodily harm

The two-year clock starts on the date of the injury. Minnesota courts strictly enforce this deadline, so waiting too long means losing your right to compensation.

Libel and Slander (2 Years)

Defamation claims, including both libel (written) and slander (spoken), also fall under the two-year limitation in Minn. Stat. 541.07. The clock starts when the defamatory statement is published or spoken.

Wrongful Death (3 Years)

Under Minn. Stat. 573.02, a wrongful death action must be filed within three years of the date of death. However, the claim must also be filed within six years of the act or omission that caused the death, whichever comes first.

There are two important exceptions:

• Medical malpractice deaths must follow the additional requirements of Minn. Stat. 541.076.
• Deaths caused by intentional murder have no time limit at all.

Fraud (6 Years)

Fraud claims carry a six-year statute of limitations under Minn. Stat. 541.05(6). The clock does not start until you discover the facts that constitute the fraud. This is known as the "discovery rule," and it protects people who could not have reasonably known about the fraud when it occurred.

Contracts (6 Years)

Both written and oral contract disputes fall under a six-year limitation period per Minn. Stat. 541.05(1). This applies to breach of contract claims where no other specific limitation period is prescribed by statute.

One important exception: contracts for the sale of goods governed by the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) have a four-year limitation under Minn. Stat. 336.2-725. The parties may agree to reduce this period to as little as one year, but they cannot extend it.

Injury to Personal Property (6 Years)

If someone damages your personal property, you have six years to file suit under Minn. Stat. 541.05(4). The clock starts when the damage occurs.

Trespass (6 Years)

Trespass claims against real estate carry a six-year deadline under Minn. Stat. 541.05(3).

Medical Malpractice (4 Years)

Minnesota has a specific statute for medical malpractice claims. Under Minn. Stat. 541.076, an action against a health care provider for malpractice must be commenced within four years from the date the cause of action accrued.

Minnesota does not apply a broad "discovery rule" to medical malpractice. The four-year period begins when the negligent act causes some harm to the patient, not necessarily when the patient discovers the full extent of the harm. However, if a doctor continues treating the same condition, the clock may be delayed under the "continuing course of treatment" doctrine until that treatment ends.

For minors, the statute of limitations is tolled (paused) while the child is under 18, but the tolling cannot exceed seven years in medical malpractice cases.

Product Liability (4 Years)

Actions based on strict liability arising from the manufacture, sale, use, or consumption of a product must be filed within four years under Minn. Stat. 541.05(2).

Construction Defects and Real Property Improvements (2 Years / 10-Year Cap)

Under Minn. Stat. 541.051, claims for injury or property damage arising from defective improvements to real property must be filed within two years of discovering the injury. However, the cause of action cannot accrue more than ten years after substantial completion of the construction.

Contribution or indemnity actions related to construction defects have a 14-year outer limit from substantial completion.

Sexual Abuse (Civil Claims)

Under Minn. Stat. 541.073, civil claims for damages caused by sexual abuse have special rules:

• Victims under 18: May file at any time (no deadline).
• Victims 18 or older: Must file within six years of the abuse.
• Vicarious liability claims (e.g., against an employer) when the victim was a minor must be filed before the plaintiff turns 24.

Judgments (10 Years)

Under Minn. Stat. 541.04, actions on a judgment must be brought within ten years of entry. Child support judgments are an exception and carry a 20-year enforcement period.

Workers' Compensation (3 Years / 6-Year Cap)

Under Minn. Stat. 176.151, a workers' compensation claim must be filed within three years after a written report of injury is made to the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. In no event can the claim be brought more than six years from the date of the accident. If no report was ever filed, the full six-year window applies.

If workers' compensation benefits were already paid to or on behalf of the employee, the statute of limitations is tolled and the employee may bring a claim at any time.

Summary Table: Minnesota Civil Statutes of Limitations

Case Type	Time Limit	Statute
Personal Injury	2 years	541.07
Libel / Slander	2 years	541.07
Wrongful Death	3 years from death (6 years from act)	573.02
Medical Malpractice	4 years	541.076
Product Liability	4 years	541.05(2)
Sale of Goods (UCC)	4 years	336.2-725
Fraud	6 years (from discovery)	541.05(6)
Contracts (Written and Oral)	6 years	541.05(1)
Injury to Personal Property	6 years	541.05(4)
Trespass	6 years	541.05(3)
Sexual Abuse (Minor Victim)	No limit	541.073
Sexual Abuse (Adult Victim)	6 years	541.073
Construction Defects	2 years (10-year cap)	541.051
Workers' Compensation	3 years (6-year cap)	176.151
Judgments	10 years	541.04
Child Support Judgments	20 years	541.04

Tolling the Statute of Limitations in Minnesota

Minnesota law allows the statute of limitations to be paused ("tolled") in certain situations. Under Minn. Stat. 541.15, the clock stops running when:

• The plaintiff is a minor. The limitations period is suspended until the person turns 18, then the normal deadline applies from that point. The plaintiff generally has one additional year after turning 18 to file.
• The plaintiff is mentally incapacitated. The clock is paused until the incapacity is removed.
• Medical malpractice involving minors. Tolling is capped at seven years or one year after the disability ceases, whichever is shorter.

These tolling provisions protect people who cannot reasonably be expected to protect their own legal rights during the limitations period.

Minnesota Criminal Statute of Limitations

Minnesota's criminal statute of limitations sets time limits on when the state can file charges. Under Minn. Stat. 628.26, serious crimes like murder and sexual offenses have no deadline, while most other offenses range from three to nine years.

Crimes with No Statute of Limitations

Minnesota does not set any time limit on prosecuting the following offenses:

• Murder and manslaughter (any crime resulting in the death of the victim)
• Kidnapping
• Criminal sexual conduct in the first through fourth degree (Minn. Stat. 609.342 through 609.345)
• Sex trafficking
• Human trafficking when the victim is under 18
• Criminal sexual conduct where DNA evidence is collected and preserved

Prosecutors can bring charges for these crimes at any time, no matter how many years have passed.

Extended Felony Deadlines

Several categories of felonies carry longer deadlines than the standard three years:

Crime	Time Limit
Criminal sexual conduct (victim 18+, no DNA)	9 years
Sex trafficking (victim 18+, no DNA)	9 years
Human trafficking (victim 18+)	6 years
Bribery of a public officer or employee	6 years
Medical assistance fraud	6 years
Employer wage theft	6 years
Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult	5 years
Theft/forgery exceeding $35,000	5 years
Identity theft (8+ victims or losses over $35,000)	5 years
Environmental crimes (pollution, hazardous waste)	5 years
Arson in the first degree	10 years
Other felonies	3 years

Misdemeanors (3 Years)

All misdemeanor offenses in Minnesota must be charged within three years of the date of the offense.

When the Clock Stops in Criminal Cases

The statute of limitations is paused in criminal cases when:

• The defendant does not reside in Minnesota.
• The defendant participates in a pretrial diversion program related to the crime.
• Physical evidence is undergoing DNA analysis related to the offense, unless the defendant can show the analysis was intentionally delayed by law enforcement.

Summary Table: Minnesota Criminal Statutes of Limitations

Offense Category	Time Limit	Statute
Murder / Manslaughter	No limit	628.26
Kidnapping	No limit	628.26
Criminal Sexual Conduct (1st-4th degree)	No limit	628.26
Sex Trafficking / Human Trafficking (minor victim)	No limit	628.26
Arson (1st degree)	10 years	628.26
Criminal Sexual Conduct (adult victim, no DNA)	9 years	628.26
Human Trafficking (adult victim)	6 years	628.26
Bribery / Medical Assistance Fraud / Wage Theft	6 years	628.26
Financial Exploitation / Theft over $35k / Identity Theft	5 years	628.26
Environmental Crimes	5 years	628.26
Other Felonies	3 years	628.26
Misdemeanors	3 years	628.26

Recent Changes to Minnesota Statutes of Limitations

Minnesota updated Section 628.26 in 2025. The most notable change increased the statute of limitations for first-degree arson from 5 years to 10 years, effective May 2025.

The Minnesota Legislature has also considered bills to extend the wrongful death statute of limitations to six years in cases involving deaths caused by law enforcement, though this proposal was still under legislative review as of 2025.

Minnesota previously eliminated the statute of limitations for all degrees of criminal sexual conduct, making it one of the states with the strongest protections for sexual assault survivors.

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