Statute of Limitations CT- Summary
Connecticut’s statute of limitations establishes a deadline before which civil cases – such as lawsuits – must be filed in the state. In relation to criminal charges, it also prevents prosecutors from charging an individual with a crime after a specified period of time has passed. The statutes of limitations for different civil actions and crimes can vary from state to state, so read on for more information about how they apply in Connecticut.
Connecticut Civil Statute of Limitations
Connecticut’s civil statute of limitations sets deadlines under which lawsuits and other civil actions must be filed in the state. These limits are typically either two or three years for most cases, such as personal injury, libel and fraud, but can be longer depending on the type of claim or procedure. The date or discovery of an incident is usually when time starts counting down.
Be aware that if you fail to file your civil claim before the established deadline, the opposing party can use the statute of limitations in their defense and file a motion to dismiss the case on the basis that the time allotted to file it has already passed. Any legal claim will be lost forever once your case is dismissed.
A summary of civil statutes of limitations in Connecticut:
| Injury to Person | 2 yrs. §52-577; Negligent, reckless, wanton misconduct or malpractice: 2 yrs. from discovery and 3 yrs. from incident §52-584 |
| Libel/Slander | 2 yrs. §52-597 |
| Fraud | 3 yrs. §52-577 |
| Injury to Personal Property | 3 yrs. §52-577; Negligent, reckless, wanton misconduct or malpractice: 2 yrs. from discovery and 3 yrs. from incident §52-584 |
| Professional Malpractice | From discovery: 2 yrs.; From incident: max. 3 yrs. §52-584 |
| Trespass | 3 yrs. §52-577 |
| Collection of Rents | – |
| Contracts | Written: 6 yrs. §52-576; Oral: 3 yrs. §52-581 |
| Collection of Debt on Account | 6 yrs. §52-576 |
| Judgments | 20 yrs. (differs for small claims judgments) §52-598 |
State laws related to filing lawsuits can change often. While our goal is to provide the most current information available, please consider contacting a Connecticut attorney or doing legal research of your own to verify the state law(s) you’re researching.
Additional Reading: How long is a life sentence in Connecticut?
Connecticut Criminal Statute of Limitations
Connecticut’s criminal statute of limitations sets time limits on the filing of criminal charges in the state. As it is in most states, Connecticut does not place a deadline on bringing charges for crimes considered especially heinous, including murder, capital murder, and any Class A felonies. The law says prosecutors can charge someone with one of these crimes no matter how much time has passed.
Felonies punishable by one or more years in prison have a five-year statute of limitations in Connecticut, and misdemeanors carry a one-year limit.
A summary of criminal statutes of limitations in Connecticut:
| Code Section | 54-193 et seq. |
| Felonies | Murder or capital, Class A felony: none; offenses punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 yr.: 5 yrs.; any other felony: 1 yr.; Sexual abuse, exploitation, or assault: 30 yrs. after victim reaches majority, or 5 yrs. from date of notification by victim – whichever is earlier (5 yrs. max.); When DNA evidence is available for sexual assault crimes: 20 yrs. if the DNA establishes identity of the guilty party, and if the victim notified police within 5 yrs. of the crime taking place |
| Misdemeanors | 1 yr. |
| Acts During Which Statute Does Not Run | If an alleged criminal is residing or fleeing out of state |
State laws are always subject to change. While our goal is to provide the most current information available, please consider contacting a Connecticut attorney or doing legal research of your own to verify the state law(s) you’re researching.