Statutes of limitations

Personal injury

Two years from accrual under CCP § 335.1, plus the discovery rule and tolling.

Medical malpractice (MICRA)

Three years from injury or one from discovery, whichever first, under CCP § 340.5, plus the § 364 notice.

Claims against public entities

Six-month claim presentation under Gov. Code § 911.2, then § 945.6 for suit; late-claim relief under § 911.4.

Wrongful death

Two years from the date of death under CCP § 335.1; standing under § 377.60.

Product liability

Two years for personal injury under CCP § 335.1; three years for property damage under § 338.

Premises liability

Two years under CCP § 335.1 — but six months if the property owner is a public entity.

Legal malpractice

One year from discovery or four years from the act, whichever first, under CCP § 340.6.

Breach of written contract

Four years under CCP § 337; oral contracts get two under § 339.

Breach of oral contract

Two years under CCP § 339 — half the four-year written-contract period in § 337.

Fraud and mistake

Three years under CCP § 338(d), running from discovery of the facts — a discovery rule in the statute itself.

Defamation (libel and slander)

One year under CCP § 340(c) — the shortest common tort period in California.

Property damage and trespass

Three years under CCP § 338(b) for real property and § 338(c) for goods and chattels.

Conversion

Three years under CCP § 338(c); stolen fine art gets a separate six-year discovery rule.

Unfair competition (UCL)

Four years under Business and Professions Code § 17208, regardless of the predicate claim's own period.

Childhood sexual assault

No time limit under CCP § 340.1 for assaults on or after January 1, 2024; earlier conduct follows prior rules.

Dog bite

Strict liability under Civ. Code § 3342, but the deadline comes from CCP § 335.1 — two years.

Construction defect

Ten-year repose for latent defects under CCP § 337.15; four years for patent defects under § 337.1.

Adult sexual assault

Ten years from the last act, or three from discovery — whichever is later, under CCP § 340.16.

Elder financial abuse

Four years from discovery under Welf. & Inst. Code § 15657.7 — a discovery rule in the statute itself.

Employment discrimination (FEHA)

Three years to file with the CRD under Gov. Code § 12960, then one year to sue under § 12965.

Claims against a decedent

One year from the date of death under CCP § 366.2 — it overrides any longer period that would otherwise apply.

Recovery of real property

Five years of seizin or possession required under CCP § 318 — the backbone of adverse possession.

Catch-all residual period

Four years under CCP § 343 for any action not otherwise provided for.

Wrongful termination (public policy)

Two years under CCP § 335.1, with no exhaustion requirement — unlike the FEHA track.

Insurance bad faith

Bad faith is a tort at two years under CCP § 335.1; the policy breach is four years under § 337.

Breach of fiduciary duty

Four years under the CCP § 343 catch-all; three from discovery under § 338(d) if the breach is fraudulent.

Personal injury (Texas)

Two years from accrual under Tex. CPRC § 16.003 — which also covers conversion and trespass.

Wrongful death (Texas)

Two years, accruing on the date of death — stated expressly in Tex. CPRC § 16.003(b).

Medical malpractice (Texas)

Two years from breach, tort, or end of treatment — plus an absolute ten-year repose.

Product liability (Texas)

Two years under § 16.003, but a 15-year repose from date of sale under § 16.012.

Sexual abuse (Texas)

Thirty years for child sexual abuse and certain trafficking; five years for other offences.

Fraud (Texas)

Four years under Tex. CPRC § 16.004 — which also covers debt and breach of fiduciary duty.

Defamation (Texas)

One year under Tex. CPRC § 16.002 — which also covers malicious prosecution.

Breach of contract (Texas)

Four years, whether written or oral — no written/oral split like California's.

Residual period (Texas)

Four years for any action with no express period, except recovery of real property.