Ohio Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type

Ohio law places strict time limits on when you can file a lawsuit or when prosecutors can bring criminal charges. These time limits are called statutes of limitations. If you miss the deadline, a court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to legal action.

This guide covers every major civil and criminal statute of limitations in Ohio, with direct references to the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). All deadlines listed here reflect current Ohio law, including changes that took effect in 2021 and 2025.

Ohio Civil Statute of Limitations

Ohio's civil statutes of limitations set deadlines for filing lawsuits. The clock typically starts on the date the injury, breach, or wrongful act occurs. In some cases, such as fraud, the clock starts when the plaintiff discovers or should have discovered the harm.

If you do not file within the allowed time, the defendant can ask the court to dismiss the case. Once dismissed on statute of limitations grounds, you cannot refile the claim.

Personal Injury and Property Damage

Under ORC 2305.10, actions for bodily injury or damage to personal property must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues. This applies to car accident injuries, slip and fall claims, and similar tort actions.

The cause of action accrues on the date the injury or property loss occurs. For injuries caused by asbestos exposure, the clock starts when a medical professional informs the plaintiff of the asbestos-related injury, or when the plaintiff should have reasonably discovered it.

Wrongful Death

Under ORC 2125.02, a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within two years after the date of the decedent's death. This deadline applies regardless of when the wrongful act that caused the death occurred.

Medical Malpractice

Ohio handles medical malpractice claims under ORC 2305.113. The filing deadline is one year after the cause of action accrues. However, no medical malpractice action can be brought more than four years after the act or omission that forms the basis of the claim. This four-year window serves as an absolute statute of repose.

The one-year period begins when the patient discovers or should have discovered the injury. Ohio law places the burden on the plaintiff to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that they could not have discovered the injury within that timeframe.

Legal Malpractice

Under ORC 2305.11(A), a legal malpractice action against an attorney, law firm, or legal professional association must be filed within one year after the cause of action accrues.

Libel, Slander, and Defamation

Actions for libel or slander must be filed within one year under ORC 2305.11(A).

Assault and Battery

Civil claims for assault or battery must be filed within one year after the cause of action accrues, per ORC 2305.11. A major exception exists for childhood sexual abuse cases (see below).

Childhood Sexual Abuse

ORC 2305.111 provides a much longer deadline for civil claims based on childhood sexual abuse. Victims have twelve years after reaching the age of majority (age 18) to file suit. That means the effective deadline extends to age 30.

If the defendant fraudulently concealed facts forming the basis of the claim, the limitations period is tolled until the plaintiff discovers or should have discovered those facts.

Malicious Prosecution and False Imprisonment

Both malicious prosecution and false imprisonment claims carry a one-year statute of limitations under ORC 2305.11(A).

Fraud

Fraud claims must be filed within four years under ORC 2305.09(C). The clock does not start until the fraud is discovered or should have been discovered.

Trespass

Actions for trespass on real property must be filed within four years under ORC 2305.09(A). For trespassing underground or injury to mines, the clock starts when the wrongdoer is discovered.

Written Contracts

Under ORC 2305.06, breach of a written contract must be filed within six years after the cause of action accrues. This deadline was shortened from eight years by Senate Bill 13, which took effect on June 14, 2021.

For claims that accrued before June 14, 2021, the filing deadline is the earlier of June 14, 2027, or the remaining time under the previous eight-year limit.

Oral Contracts

Actions on a contract not in writing (oral contracts) must be filed within four years under ORC 2305.07. This deadline was also shortened by Senate Bill 13 in 2021, reduced from six years to four.

Sale of Goods (UCC)

For contracts involving the sale of goods, ORC 1302.98 (Ohio's version of UCC 2-725) sets a four-year statute of limitations from the date the cause of action accrues.

Product Liability

Product liability claims must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues under ORC 2305.10. Ohio also imposes a ten-year statute of repose, meaning no product liability claim can be brought more than ten years after the product was delivered to its first purchaser or lessee who was not using it as a component in another product.

Recovery of Real Property

An action to recover title or possession of real property must be filed within twenty-one years under ORC 2305.04. If the person bringing the action was a minor or of unsound mind when the cause of action accrued, they may file within ten years after the disability is removed, even if the twenty-one-year period has passed.

Enforcement of Judgments

A judgment in Ohio can be enforced for twenty-one years under ORC 2325.18.

Statutory Liability

An action upon a liability created by statute (other than a forfeiture or penalty) must be filed within six years under ORC 2305.07.

Civil Statutes of Limitations Summary Table

Type of Case	Time Limit	Statute
Personal Injury	2 years	ORC 2305.10
Property Damage	2 years	ORC 2305.10
Wrongful Death	2 years	ORC 2125.02
Medical Malpractice	1 year (4-year repose)	ORC 2305.113
Legal Malpractice	1 year	ORC 2305.11(A)
Libel/Slander	1 year	ORC 2305.11(A)
Assault and Battery	1 year	ORC 2305.11
Childhood Sexual Abuse	12 years after age 18	ORC 2305.111
Malicious Prosecution	1 year	ORC 2305.11(A)
False Imprisonment	1 year	ORC 2305.11(A)
Fraud	4 years (from discovery)	ORC 2305.09(C)
Trespass	4 years	ORC 2305.09(A)
Written Contract	6 years	ORC 2305.06
Oral Contract	4 years	ORC 2305.07
Sale of Goods (UCC)	4 years	ORC 1302.98
Product Liability	2 years (10-year repose)	ORC 2305.10
Recovery of Real Property	21 years	ORC 2305.04
Enforcement of Judgments	21 years	ORC 2325.18
Statutory Liability	6 years	ORC 2305.07

Ohio Criminal Statute of Limitations

Ohio's criminal statutes of limitations, found in ORC 2901.13, set deadlines for prosecutors to file criminal charges. If the state does not bring charges within the allowed period, it loses the right to prosecute.

No Time Limit: Murder

There is no statute of limitations for murder (ORC 2903.02) or aggravated murder (ORC 2903.01). Prosecutors can file charges at any time, regardless of how many years have passed since the crime.

Twenty-Year Limitation

Ohio gives prosecutors twenty years to file charges for the following serious offenses under ORC 2901.13(A)(3):

• Voluntary manslaughter (ORC 2903.03)
• Involuntary manslaughter (ORC 2903.04)
• Kidnapping (ORC 2905.01)
• Trafficking in persons (ORC 2905.32)
• Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (ORC 2907.04)
• Gross sexual imposition (ORC 2907.05)
• Compelling prostitution (ORC 2907.21)
• Arson (ORC 2909.02)
• Terrorism-related offenses (ORC 2909.22 through 2909.29)
• Aggravated robbery (ORC 2911.01)
• Robbery (ORC 2911.02)
• Aggravated burglary (ORC 2911.11)
• Burglary (ORC 2911.12)
• Aggravated riot (ORC 2917.02)
• Felonious assault of a peace officer (ORC 2903.11, 2903.12)
• Felonious assault (ORC 2903.13, if a felony)
• Conspiracy, attempt, or complicity in any of the above

Twenty-Year Limitation: Rape and Sexual Battery

Rape (ORC 2907.02) and sexual battery (ORC 2907.03) carry a twenty-year statute of limitations. If a DNA match is made within twenty-five years of the offense, prosecutors may file charges within the longer of twenty-five years or five years from the DNA match determination. If the DNA match is made more than twenty-five years after the offense, prosecutors have five years from the date of the match.

Six-Year Limitation: Other Felonies

All other felonies not listed above carry a six-year statute of limitations under ORC 2901.13(A)(1)(a).

Two-Year Limitation: Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors (other than minor misdemeanors) must be prosecuted within two years under ORC 2901.13(A)(1)(b).

Six-Month Limitation: Minor Misdemeanors

Minor misdemeanors carry a six-month deadline under ORC 2901.13(A)(1)(c).

Fraud and Breach of Fiduciary Duty

If the standard statute of limitations has expired, prosecution for fraud or breach of fiduciary duty may still begin within one year after discovery by the victim or their legal representative.

Identity Fraud (2025 Change)

Ohio House Bill 322, signed into law on April 9, 2025, added a new provision for identity fraud under ORC 2913.49. If the standard limitations period has expired, prosecution can be brought within five years after discovery of the offense by the victim or their legal representative.

Criminal Statutes of Limitations Summary Table

Offense	Time Limit	Statute
Murder / Aggravated Murder	No limit	ORC 2901.13(A)(2)
Rape / Sexual Battery	20 years (DNA extension available)	ORC 2901.13(A)(4)
Manslaughter, Kidnapping, Arson, Robbery, Burglary	20 years	ORC 2901.13(A)(3)
Other Felonies	6 years	ORC 2901.13(A)(1)(a)
Misdemeanors	2 years	ORC 2901.13(A)(1)(b)
Minor Misdemeanors	6 months	ORC 2901.13(A)(1)(c)
Fraud / Breach of Fiduciary Duty	1 year after discovery	ORC 2901.13
Identity Fraud (ORC 2913.49)	5 years after discovery	ORC 2901.13 (HB 322, 2025)

Tolling the Statute of Limitations in Ohio

Ohio law recognizes several situations where the statute of limitations is paused, or "tolled." During tolling, the clock stops running, and the plaintiff or prosecutor gets additional time.

Defendant Absent from the State

Under ORC 2305.15, if the defendant leaves Ohio after a civil cause of action accrues, the time spent outside the state does not count toward the limitations period. The same applies if the defendant absconds or conceals their identity. This tolling rule does not apply to statutes of repose.

Minority or Mental Incapacity

Under ORC 2305.16, if the person entitled to bring a civil action is a minor (under 18) or of unsound mind when the cause of action accrues, the statute of limitations does not begin running until the disability is removed. If the person becomes of unsound mind after the cause of action accrues and is adjudicated as such by a court, the time during that condition is also tolled.

Criminal Tolling

For criminal cases under ORC 2901.13, the statute of limitations does not run during any period when the accused is absent from the state, concealing their identity, or already facing prosecution for the same conduct.

Discovery Rule

For certain claims, including fraud (ORC 2305.09) and medical malpractice (ORC 2305.113), the statute of limitations does not begin until the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered the injury or wrongful act.

Recent Changes to Ohio Statutes of Limitations

Ohio has made several notable changes to its filing deadlines in recent years:

• Senate Bill 13 (effective June 14, 2021): Shortened the written contract statute of limitations from eight years to six years and the oral contract statute of limitations from six years to four years.
• House Bill 322 (signed April 9, 2025): Added a five-year discovery window for identity fraud prosecutions under ORC 2913.49, allowing charges even after the standard limitations period has expired.

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