Virginia Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type

In Virginia, personal injury and fraud claims must be filed within 2 years under Va. Code 8.01-243(A), written contract disputes within 5 years, and oral contracts within 3 years. Virginia has no statute of limitations for any felony, while most misdemeanors carry a 1-year deadline under Va. Code 19.2-8.

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

What Is a Statute of Limitations in Virginia?

A statute of limitations is a law that sets the maximum amount of time a person has to file a lawsuit or bring criminal charges. Once this deadline passes, the claim is typically barred forever. In Virginia, these time limits vary based on whether the case is civil or criminal, and the specific type of claim involved.

Virginia's statutes of limitations serve two purposes. They protect defendants from facing stale claims based on faded memories and lost evidence. They also encourage plaintiffs and prosecutors to pursue valid claims in a reasonable timeframe.

Understanding these deadlines is critical. If you miss the filing window by even one day, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case.

Virginia Civil Statute of Limitations

Virginia's civil statutes of limitations are found primarily in Title 8.01, Chapter 4 of the Code of Virginia. The filing period depends on the type of civil claim.

Personal Injury (2 Years)

Under Va. Code 8.01-243(A), every action for personal injuries must be filed within 2 years after the cause of action accrues. This applies regardless of the legal theory of recovery.

The clock generally starts on the date of the injury. However, Virginia courts recognize a discovery rule for certain types of injuries. If the injury was not immediately apparent, the statute may begin running when the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered the harm.

Fraud (2 Years)

Actions for damages resulting from fraud must also be filed within 2 years under Va. Code 8.01-243(A). Under Va. Code 8.01-249, the cause of action accrues when the fraud is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered through due diligence.

Libel and Slander (2 Years)

Defamation claims, including both libel (written) and slander (spoken), must be brought within 2 years under Va. Code 8.01-243(A).

Property Damage (5 Years)

Every action for injury to property must be filed within 5 years after the cause of action accrues, as specified in Va. Code 8.01-243(B). This includes damage to personal belongings, vehicles, real estate, and other property.

Trespass (5 Years)

Trespass claims in Virginia also carry a 5-year statute of limitations under Va. Code 8.01-243(B).

Wrongful Death (2 Years)

Under Va. Code 8.01-244, every wrongful death action must be brought by the personal representative of the decedent within 2 years after the date of death. This is not measured from the date of the injury, but from the date the person actually died.

If such an action is filed and later dismissed without a decision on the merits, the time the action was pending does not count against the two-year deadline.

Contracts

Virginia distinguishes between written and oral contracts under Va. Code 8.01-246.

• Written contracts: 5 years from the date of breach (Va. Code 8.01-246(2))
• Oral contracts: 3 years from the date of breach (Va. Code 8.01-246(4))

The statute of limitations begins to run when the breach occurs, not when the resulting damage is discovered.

Medical Malpractice (2 Years, With Exceptions)

Medical malpractice claims against health care providers must generally be filed within 2 years under Va. Code 8.01-243(A). However, there are several important exceptions.

Under Va. Code 8.01-243.1, special rules apply for minors. If the patient was under age 8 at the time of the malpractice, the action must be filed before the child's 10th birthday.

Additional extensions apply in these situations:

• Foreign objects left in the body: The deadline extends to 1 year from the date the object is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
• Failure to diagnose cancer or a malignant tumor: The deadline extends to 1 year from the date the diagnosis is communicated to the patient, provided the underlying act or omission occurred on or after July 1, 2008.
• Failure to diagnose a schwannoma: The deadline extends to 1 year from the date the diagnosis is communicated, if the act or omission occurred on or after July 1, 2016.

These extensions cannot push the deadline beyond 10 years from the date the cause of action accrues. That cap is not absolute: Va. Code 8.01-243(C) expressly preserves the disability tolling in Va. Code 8.01-229(A)(2) for actions brought by or on behalf of a person under a disability, and claims on behalf of minors are governed separately by Va. Code 8.01-243.1.

Product Liability (2 Years)

Virginia does not have a separate product liability statute of limitations. These claims fall under the general personal injury provision of Va. Code 8.01-243(A), giving injured parties 2 years to file suit. For latent injuries caused by products, the discovery rule may apply under Va. Code 8.01-249.

Judgments (10-20 Years, Depending on Date)

Under Va. Code 8.01-251, judgments dated before July 1, 2021, must be enforced within 20 years from the date of the judgment. Judgments dated on or after July 1, 2021, must be enforced within 10 years, except that judgments for unpaid child support keep the 20-year period regardless of when they were entered. The judgment creditor may extend the applicable period by recording a certificate in the clerk's office before it expires. Each extension lasts 10 years, and up to two extensions are permitted, for a potential maximum enforcement period of 40 years for a pre-2021 or child-support judgment, or 30 years for a judgment dated on or after July 1, 2021.

A suit to enforce a judgment lien is barred once the right to execute on or sue on the underlying judgment itself has expired under the rule above. If the judgment debtor has since conveyed the land to a buyer for value, the lien-enforcement suit must instead be brought within 5 years of the deed's recordation, with a notice of lis pendens recorded before that 5-year window closes.

Civil Sexual Abuse Claims

Virginia provides extended filing periods for civil sexual abuse claims under Va. Code 8.01-243.

• Sexual abuse during infancy or incapacity: The victim has 20 years after the cause of action accrues (Va. Code 8.01-243(D)).
• Sexual abuse of an adult by a person in authority: The victim has 15 years after the cause of action accrues.
• Other sexual abuse (accruing on or after July 1, 2020): The victim has 10 years after the cause of action accrues (Va. Code 8.01-243(D1)).

For claims arising from abuse during infancy or incapacity, Va. Code 8.01-249(6) sets accrual at the later of three events: the removal of the disability of infancy or incapacity, the date a licensed physician, psychologist, or clinical psychologist first communicates the fact of the injury and its causal connection to the abuse, or the date corroborative evidence is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. Because the second and third triggers can occur long after a survivor turns 18, the 20-year window often extends well past age 38. Age 38 is not an outer limit, and a survivor past that age should have the accrual date assessed by a Virginia attorney rather than assume the claim is barred.

Complete Civil Statute of Limitations Table

Virginia Criminal Statute of Limitations

Virginia's criminal statute of limitations is governed primarily by Va. Code 19.2-8. Unlike many states, Virginia takes a straightforward approach to felonies.

Felonies: No Time Limit

Virginia has no statute of limitations for any felony. This is a significant distinction from most other states. There is no deadline for prosecutors to bring charges for crimes such as:

• Murder and manslaughter
• Rape and sexual assault
• Robbery and burglary
• Arson
• Kidnapping
• Grand larceny
• Drug trafficking
• Aggravated assault

Va. Code 19.2-8 addresses only misdemeanor time limits. Because felonies are not mentioned, they carry no filing deadline. This has been confirmed by Virginia courts and is reinforced by Va. Code 19.2-8.1, which specifically states that the passage of time is not a limitation for murder or manslaughter.

Misdemeanors: General Rules

The default statute of limitations for misdemeanor crimes in Virginia is 1 year from the date the offense was committed. However, several categories of misdemeanors have longer or shorter periods.

Misdemeanors With Longer Deadlines

Crimes Against Children

Virginia provides special provisions for crimes committed against children.

• Statutory rape of a child between 13 and 15: No statute of limitations.
• Taking indecent liberties with children: No statute of limitations.
• Misdemeanor attempted sexual battery of a minor: Must be prosecuted within 1 year after the victim reaches majority (age 18). If the offender was an adult and more than 3 years older than the victim, the deadline extends to 5 years after the victim reaches majority.
• Sexual abuse of a child under 15: Must be prosecuted within 1 year after the victim reaches majority.
• Penetration of mouth of child with lascivious intent: Must be prosecuted within 1 year after the victim reaches majority.

When the Clock Stops (Tolling)

Under Va. Code 19.2-8, the statute of limitations does not run during any period when the accused is:

• Fleeing from justice: If the defendant leaves the state or goes into hiding to avoid arrest, the clock pauses until they return or are found.
• Desertion or failure to support: For cases involving desertion of a spouse or child, or neglect or failure to provide support, there is no time limitation.

Tolling Rules for Civil Cases

Va. Code 8.01-229 provides several situations where the statute of limitations is paused (tolled) in civil cases.

Minors

If the injured person was a minor (under 18) when the cause of action arose, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the person turns 18. The time spent as a minor is not counted against the filing deadline.

Incapacitated Persons

If the person entitled to bring an action was incapacitated at the time the cause of action accrued, the statute is tolled until the disability is removed.

Defendant Prevents Filing

Under Va. Code 8.01-229(D), if the defendant obstructs the filing of a lawsuit by filing for bankruptcy or by any other direct or indirect means, the time the obstruction continues does not count against the filing deadline. A separate, narrower rule applies only to medical malpractice claims: under Va. Code 8.01-243(C)(2), if fraud, concealment, or intentional misrepresentation by the health care provider prevented the patient from discovering the injury within the normal two-year period, the deadline is extended to 1 year from the date of discovery. That extension does not apply to civil cases generally.

Workers' Compensation Awards

If a workers' compensation award is later found void (other than for fraud by the claimant), the statute of limitations for any related civil action is tolled for the period during which compensation payments were being made.

Nonsuit

If a plaintiff takes a voluntary nonsuit (dismisses their own case), Va. Code 8.01-229(E)(3) allows them to refile the action within 6 months of the nonsuit or within the remaining limitation period, whichever is longer.

Parallel Criminal Prosecution

Under Va. Code 8.01-229(K), if a criminal prosecution arising out of the same facts is commenced, the time that prosecution is pending does not count against the deadline for a personal injury action or a wrongful death action under Va. Code 8.01-50. The pendency period runs from the first of the warrant, summons, capias, indictment, information, or the defendant's first appearance as an accused, until the last of the trial court's final judgment, the final disposition of any direct appeal, or the expiration of the time to note an appeal. After that, the civil action may be brought within the remaining limitation period or within 1 year, whichever is longer.

The statute also reaches back. If the prosecution begins and an indictment is returned or waived after the ordinary civil period has already lapsed, a civil action may still be brought within 1 year of that final disposition, subject to an outer bound of 10 years after the date of the crime or 2 years after the cause of action accrued, whichever is later. A crime victim whose two-year window appears to have closed should check this provision before assuming the claim is dead.

What Happens When You Miss the Deadline?

If you fail to file a civil lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, the defendant can raise the expired deadline as a defense. The court will then dismiss the case. Once dismissed on statute of limitations grounds, the claim is permanently barred.

In criminal cases, if the prosecution brings charges after the applicable deadline, the defendant can move to dismiss. For felonies in Virginia, this is not a concern because there is no time limit.

Virginia courts strictly enforce these deadlines. The state does not generally allow "equitable tolling" beyond the specific exceptions written into the code. Missing your filing deadline by even one day will almost certainly result in the loss of your claim.

Tips for Protecting Your Filing Rights

• Act promptly. Do not wait until the last minute to file a lawsuit or report a crime.
• Identify your claim type. The statute of limitations depends on the specific type of case, so make sure you know which deadline applies.
• Check for tolling. If you were a minor, incapacitated, or the defendant concealed information, you may have additional time.
• Consult a Virginia attorney. A lawyer can confirm the exact deadline for your situation and help you file before it expires.
• Keep records. Document the date of the injury, breach, or incident. This information is critical for determining when the clock starts.

More Virginia Laws

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Virginia have a statute of limitations for felonies?

No. Virginia has no statute of limitations for any felony. Prosecutors can bring felony charges at any time, regardless of how many years have passed since the crime was committed. This applies to all felonies, including murder, rape, robbery, burglary, arson, and grand larceny.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Virginia?

You have 2 years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Virginia under Va. Code 8.01-243(A). If you miss this deadline, the court will dismiss your case. The discovery rule may apply in limited situations where the injury was not immediately apparent.

What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in Virginia?

For written contracts, you have 5 years from the date of the breach to file a lawsuit under Va. Code 8.01-246(2). For oral contracts, the deadline is 3 years under Va. Code 8.01-246(4). The clock starts when the breach occurs, not when the resulting damage is discovered.

Can the statute of limitations be extended or tolled in Virginia?

Yes. Under Va. Code 8.01-229, the statute of limitations is tolled (paused) if the plaintiff was a minor or incapacitated when the cause of action arose. The clock does not start running until the person turns 18 or the disability is removed. The statute may also be tolled if the defendant obstructs the filing of a lawsuit, such as by filing for bankruptcy. Under Va. Code 8.01-229(K), the clock on a personal injury or wrongful death claim is also suspended while a criminal prosecution arising out of the same facts is pending, and the action may then be brought within the remaining period or within 1 year of final disposition, whichever is longer. A separate, narrower rule extends medical malpractice claims by 1 year from discovery if the health care provider's fraud or concealment prevented the patient from discovering the injury.

What is the statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases in Virginia?

Civil sexual abuse claims involving minors or incapacitated victims have a 20-year statute of limitations under Va. Code 8.01-243(D). For adult victims of sexual abuse by a person in authority, the limit is 15 years. For other sexual abuse cases with a cause of action accruing after July 1, 2020, the limit is 10 years. Criminal sexual assault charges that are felonies have no statute of limitations in Virginia.