Hi, I'm Byron Walker. I run StatuteLookup.
What this site is
StatuteLookup is a reference for civil statutes of limitations in the United States — the legal deadlines for filing different kinds of claims, organized by state and case type. It exists because this information is scattered across 50 state code databases, often buried in dense legal language, and missing a deadline by a single day can permanently bar a claim no matter how strong the underlying case is.
What you'll find here:
- The statute of limitations for 12 common civil claim types (personal injury, medical malpractice, debt collection, contracts, defamation, fraud, employment, and more) in all 50 states
- State-specific notes where the rule has exceptions — discovery rules, statutes of repose, recent changes for childhood sexual abuse claims, and so on
- Plain-English explanations of when the clock typically starts and what tolling exceptions exist
- Direct links to find a licensed attorney in your state, because for any actual claim you need one
What this site isn't
- Not legal advice. Nothing on this site is legal advice or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney. Statutes of limitations are jurisdiction-specific, fact-specific, and full of exceptions that turn on details only an attorney reviewing your situation can evaluate.
- Not a law firm. I am not a lawyer. StatuteLookup is not affiliated with any law firm, court, or government agency.
- Not a guarantee. Laws change. State legislatures shorten and extend deadlines regularly — Florida cut personal injury from 4 years to 2 years in 2023, and many states have eliminated SOL for childhood sexual abuse since 2019. The site is updated when changes are reported, but always verify the current rule with your state's official source or an attorney before relying on any deadline.
- Not a lead-generation site. The lookup is free and doesn't require signup. We don't collect or sell personal information.
Who I am and where the information comes from
I'm Byron Walker, based in East Texas. I work in tech and built StatuteLookup as an independent project — I'm not a lawyer and not going to pretend to be one. If your situation matters, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.
What I do is research. Every deadline on this site comes from a primary source: the state's published statute, official court website, or state bar publication. When a state changes its law — like Florida's tort reform in 2023 or the wave of childhood sexual abuse SOL extensions since 2019 — the pages get updated. If you find an error, email me at admin@statutelookup.net and I'll fix it, usually within a day.
One important limitation worth being explicit about: the deadline shown on a page is the general rule for that claim type. Real cases often have exceptions — the plaintiff was a minor, the defendant was out of state, the injury was fraudulently concealed, a discovery rule pushes the clock, a statute of repose creates an absolute cap. These exceptions narrow the field of who can use the general number, and only an attorney reviewing your specific facts can tell you which apply.
If you have a potential claim
Don't wait to consult an attorney. Most personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency — meaning no fee unless you win. The cost of an initial call is zero. The cost of missing a deadline is your entire case.
If you're not sure where to start, your state bar association maintains a referral service that will connect you with a licensed attorney in the relevant practice area.
How StatuteLookup makes money
StatuteLookup is supported by Google AdSense display advertising and by referrals to attorney-matching services when readers click through. Ad and referral revenue does not influence which deadlines are reported, the accuracy of state notes, or the editorial recommendation to consult a licensed attorney before relying on any information on the site.
Contact
Errors, suggestions, jurisdictions or claim types you'd like covered — I read every email.