Oregon Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type

Under ORS 12.110(1), Oregon gives personal injury victims two years to file a lawsuit. Written and oral contract claims carry a six-year deadline under ORS 12.080(1). Murder and manslaughter face no filing deadline under ORS 131.125(1). Missing any deadline permanently bars the claim.

Understanding Oregon's statute of limitations is essential for anyone considering legal action in the state. These deadlines determine how long you have to file a lawsuit or how long prosecutors have to bring criminal charges. Missing a filing deadline can permanently bar your claim, regardless of how strong your case may be.

This guide covers both civil and criminal statutes of limitations in Oregon, with the specific ORS (Oregon Revised Statutes) citations for each category.

Hurt in Oregon? If you are still within the deadline above, you can estimate what your injury claim may be worth with our free Oregon personal injury settlement calculator. It gives an instant range based on your medical costs and Oregon's fault rule (general information, not legal advice).

What Is a Statute of Limitations?

A statute of limitations is a law that sets the maximum amount of time after an event within which a legal action may be filed. Once that time period expires, the claim is generally barred forever.

In Oregon, statutes of limitations are found primarily in ORS Chapter 12 for civil matters and ORS Chapter 131 for criminal matters. The clock typically starts running on the date the injury, breach, or crime occurs. However, Oregon recognizes several exceptions that can pause or extend these deadlines.

Oregon Civil Statute of Limitations

Oregon's civil statutes of limitations govern how long a person has to file a lawsuit in civil court. These deadlines vary based on the type of claim, ranging from one year to ten years.

If you fail to file your civil claim before the established deadline, the opposing party can raise the statute of limitations as a defense and file a motion to dismiss your case. Once a court grants that dismissal, your legal claim is lost permanently.

Civil Statute of Limitations Table

Personal Injury (2 Years)

Under ORS 12.110(1), an action for assault, battery, false imprisonment, or any other injury to a person must be filed within two years. The clock begins on the date of the injury. This two-year deadline applies to most personal injury claims, including car accidents, slip and fall injuries, dog bites, and premises liability cases.

For fraud-based claims, the limitation period begins from the date the fraud was discovered, not the date it occurred.

Medical Malpractice (2 Years from Discovery)

Oregon applies a discovery rule for medical malpractice under ORS 12.110(4). You have two years from the date you first discovered (or should have discovered) the injury caused by the medical treatment. However, there is an absolute maximum of five years from the date of the treatment, regardless of when you discovered the harm.

Wrongful Death (3 Years)

Under ORS 30.020, a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within three years after the date of the deceased person's death. This is separate from the personal injury statute and provides an additional year beyond the standard two-year injury deadline.

Contracts (6 Years)

Oregon provides six years to file a lawsuit for breach of contract under ORS 12.080(1). This deadline applies to both written and oral contracts. The same six-year period covers actions on debts, accounts, and other contractual liabilities.

An exception exists for contracts involving the sale of goods, which fall under ORS 72.7250 and carry a four-year limitation period.

Property Damage (6 Years)

Claims for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property must be filed within six years under ORS 12.080(4). Claims for trespass on or injury to real property also carry a six-year deadline under ORS 12.080(3).

Construction Defects (10-Year Maximum)

Under ORS 12.135, claims arising from construction, alteration, or repair of improvements to real property must be filed within the applicable limitation period (usually two years for injury) but no later than ten years after substantial completion of the project.

Child Sexual Abuse and Adult Sexual Assault (No Limit)

As of June 26, 2025, Oregon enacted HB 3582, which eliminated the civil statute of limitations for claims based on child sexual abuse. Previously, survivors had until age 40 or five years from the date they discovered the connection between the abuse and their injuries, whichever was later.

Under ORS 12.118, civil claims based on sexual assault of an adult may also be commenced at any time. The 2025 law also removed the requirement that institutions "knowingly" allowed or permitted the abuse, making it easier for survivors to hold organizations accountable.

Oregon Criminal Statute of Limitations

Oregon's criminal statutes of limitations are found in ORS 131.125 and related sections. These deadlines determine how long the state has to file criminal charges after a crime is committed.

Crimes with No Statute of Limitations

Under ORS 131.125(1), the following crimes may be prosecuted at any time:

• Murder
• Aggravated murder
• Attempted murder
• Attempted aggravated murder
• Conspiracy or solicitation to commit murder or aggravated murder
• Manslaughter in any degree

Criminal Statute of Limitations Table

Felony Sex Crimes (20 Years)

Under ORS 131.125(2), the most serious sexual felonies carry a 20-year statute of limitations. These include first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and first-degree sexual abuse.

If the victim was under 18 at the time of the crime, prosecution may commence at any time before the victim turns 30, or within 20 years of the crime, whichever is later.

Other Sexual and Abuse Felonies (6 Years)

Under ORS 131.125(3), a range of sexual offenses and abuse-related felonies carry a six-year statute of limitations. If the victim was under 18, prosecution may begin before the victim turns 30 or within 12 years after the offense is reported to law enforcement or the Department of Human Services, whichever comes first.

Sexual Misdemeanors (4 Years)

Certain sexual and obscenity-related misdemeanors under ORS 131.125(4) carry a four-year statute of limitations instead of the standard two-year misdemeanor period. If the victim was under 18, prosecution may begin before the victim turns 22 or within four years after the offense is reported to law enforcement or the Department of Human Services, whichever comes first.

Financial and Property Crimes Against Victims 65 or Older (6 Years)

ORS 131.125(7) applies only when the victim was 65 years of age or older at the time of the crime. In that situation, theft in the first degree, aggravated theft in the first degree, extortion, robbery in any degree, forgery in the first degree, fraudulent use of a credit card, and identity theft may be prosecuted within six years. When one of these crimes began as a scam aimed at an older person, our guide to Oregon scam and fraud laws covers where to report it and the civil remedies Oregon gives victims 65 and older.

When the victim was under 65, those same felonies fall back to the general three-year felony deadline in ORS 131.125(8)(a).

General Felonies (3 Years)

Any felony not specifically listed elsewhere in ORS 131.125 must be prosecuted within three years after the crime is committed, per ORS 131.125(8)(a). This is the deadline that applies to ordinary theft, robbery, forgery, and identity theft cases where the victim was under 65.

Misdemeanors and Violations

Under ORS 131.125(8)(b), misdemeanors generally carry a two-year statute of limitations. Violations, the least serious category of offense in Oregon, must be prosecuted within six months under ORS 131.125(8)(c). ORS 131.125(9) is a separate provision that can extend those periods in fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, official misconduct, invasion of personal privacy, and sexual abuse by fraudulent representation cases.

Tolling: When the Clock Stops Running

Oregon law provides several situations where the statute of limitations is paused (or "tolled"). During a tolling period, the deadline clock does not run.

Criminal Tolling Rules

Under ORS 131.145(2), the criminal statute of limitations does not run during any period when:

• The accused is not an inhabitant of, or usually resident within, Oregon
• The accused hides within the state so as to prevent process being served

A separate section caps that tolling. ORS 131.155 provides that "notwithstanding ORS 131.145, in no case shall the period of limitation otherwise applicable be extended by more than three years."

Civil Tolling Rules

Under ORS 12.160, the civil statute of limitations is tolled if the person entitled to bring the action was, at the time the cause of action accrued:

• A minor (under 18): The statute is tolled until the person turns 18, but the total extension cannot exceed five years or one year after the person turns 18, whichever comes first.
• A person with a disabling mental condition: The statute is tolled for the duration of the condition, but the total extension cannot exceed five years or one year after the condition ends, whichever comes first.

Discovery Rule

For certain claims, Oregon applies a "discovery rule" that starts the clock when the plaintiff discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the injury. This applies to:

• Fraud claims under ORS 12.110
• Medical malpractice under ORS 12.110(4)
• Product liability under ORS 30.905
• Construction defect claims under ORS 12.135

Recent Changes to Oregon Statute of Limitations Law

HB 3582 (Effective June 26, 2025)

Oregon enacted HB 3582 in June 2025, making major changes to civil statutes of limitations for sexual abuse and assault claims:

• Eliminated the civil filing deadline for child sexual abuse claims (amending ORS 12.117)
• Removed the requirement that institutions "knowingly" allowed abuse
• The law does not revive claims that were already barred before June 26, 2025

2024 Criminal Statute Updates

Amendments to ORS 131.125 that took effect January 1, 2024, increased the statute of limitations for first-degree sexual offenses from 12 years to 20 years. These changes apply to offenses committed before, on, or after the effective date, but do not revive prosecutions that were already barred.

When Does the Statute of Limitations Not Apply in Oregon?

Oregon has specific situations where no statute of limitations applies:

• Murder and related offenses: Murder, aggravated murder, attempted murder, attempted aggravated murder, conspiracy or solicitation to commit murder or aggravated murder, and manslaughter in any degree have no filing deadline.
• Civil child sexual abuse claims: As of June 2025, there is no deadline to file a civil lawsuit for child sexual abuse.
• Civil adult sexual assault claims: ORS 12.118 allows these claims to be filed at any time.
• Federal crimes: Under federal law, there is no statute of limitations for federal crimes punishable by death, certain acts of terrorism, and certain federal sex offenses.
• DNA identification cases (with a two-year catch): Under ORS 131.125(10)(a), a prosecution for first-degree rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration, or sexual abuse may be commenced at any time after the crime when the defendant is identified through DNA comparison after the normal period has run. That is not open-ended. ORS 131.125(11) requires the prosecution to be commenced within two years of the DNA-based identification of the defendant where it would otherwise be barred.

More Oregon Laws

• Oregon Car Accident Laws
• Oregon Dog Bite Laws
• Oregon Expungement Laws
• Oregon Slip and Fall Laws
• Oregon Workers Compensation Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in Oregon?

Oregon allows two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under ORS 12.110(1). This applies to most injury claims including car accidents, slip and fall cases, and premises liability.

Is there a statute of limitations on murder in Oregon?

No. Under ORS 131.125(1), there is no statute of limitations for murder, aggravated murder, attempted murder, attempted aggravated murder, conspiracy or solicitation to commit murder or aggravated murder, or manslaughter in any degree.

How long do I have to sue for breach of contract in Oregon?

Oregon provides six years to file a breach of contract lawsuit under ORS 12.080(1). This applies to both written and oral contracts. Contracts for the sale of goods carry a four-year limit under ORS 72.7250.

Can the statute of limitations be extended in Oregon?

Yes. Oregon tolls (pauses) the statute of limitations in several situations, including when the plaintiff is a minor under 18, when a person has a disabling mental condition, or when the discovery rule applies to claims like fraud or medical malpractice. In criminal cases, the clock pauses if the accused leaves the state or goes into hiding.

Did Oregon change its statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases?

Yes. In June 2025, Oregon enacted HB 3582, which eliminated the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims. Previously, survivors had until age 40 to file. On the criminal side, the statute of limitations for first-degree sexual offenses increased from 12 years to 20 years effective January 1, 2024.