Small claims court · before you file
How much time is left to sue?
Pick your state, the type of claim, and the date it happened, and see your filing deadline — cited to that state's own statute of limitations.
Shows the general statutory limitations period counted from the date the claim happened. It doesn't account for the discovery rule (some claims don't start the clock until the harm was discovered), tolling for a minor or incapacitated plaintiff, or a much shorter notice-of-claim deadline that applies when the defendant is a government entity. Informational only, not legal advice; confirm your actual deadline with your court clerk or an attorney, especially if it's close.
How this is calculated
Last reviewed: September 2026
One clock per claim type
Every state sets a different limitations period depending on what the claim actually is — a written contract typically gets the longest period, an oral contract or personal injury usually the shortest. This tool covers written contract, oral contract, property damage, and personal injury claims — the four types that cover the large majority of everyday small claims disputes — each cited to that state's own limitations statute for that specific claim type, not a general catch-all figure.
The clock starts at accrual, not signing
The deadline is calculated from the date you enter — the date the contract was breached or the harm happened — plus the applicable number of years. That's the standard accrual rule nearly every state defaults to. It is not the date a contract was signed, and it is not today's date.
What this doesn't cover
- The discovery rule. Some claims — fraud, latent property damage, a defect not immediately obvious — don't start the clock until the harm was or reasonably should have been discovered. This tool always counts from the date something happened, not the date it was found.
- Tolling. A minor or legally incapacitated plaintiff can get the clock paused or extended in most states. Not modeled here.
- Government defendants. A claim against a city, county, or state agency runs on a separate, much shorter notice-of-claim deadline instead of the statute of limitations shown here.
- Whether the claim otherwise qualifies for small claims court. Use the Small Claims Limit Checker for the dollar limit, and the Filing Fee Calculator for what it costs to file once you're inside the deadline.
States currently covered
California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, New York (New York City). More states are added on an ongoing basis.
Frequently asked questions
What if my claim doesn't fit neatly into one of these four types?
Pick whichever comes closest — most everyday small claims disputes (an unpaid invoice, a bounced check, a car accident, a landlord withholding a deposit) fall under a written contract, an oral agreement, or property damage. A claim that's genuinely different — fraud, a professional's malpractice, a statutory violation — often runs on its own separate limitations period not covered here. Your court clerk's self-help resources or a local attorney can point you to the right one.
The clock started when I signed the contract, right?
No — it starts when the contract was breached (the payment was missed, the work wasn't done), not when it was signed. For property damage or a personal injury, it's the date the harm happened. Enter that date, not an earlier one.
My deadline already passed — is there anything I can do?
Sometimes. A few narrow exceptions can push a deadline later — most commonly the "discovery rule," where the clock doesn't start until you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the harm, which matters most for latent property damage or fraud. Tolling can also apply if the plaintiff was a minor or legally incapacitated when the claim arose. Neither is modeled here since both turn on case-specific facts — an attorney or your court clerk can tell you whether either applies to you.
Is suing a government agency different?
Yes, and it's not covered by this tool at all. A claim against a city, county, state agency, or school district runs on a separate, much shorter notice-of-claim deadline — often just 30 to 180 days from the incident, filed with the agency itself before you can sue. Miss that window and the statute of limitations shown here never comes into play.
Related tools
See whether your claim qualifies for small claims court and what the dollar limit is, by state and by plaintiff type — individual or business.
Open tool →Small Claims Filing Fee CalculatorSee exactly what it costs to file a small claims case, by state — cited to your court's own fee schedule.
Open tool →Total Cost to Sue CalculatorThe full out-of-pocket cost to sue in small claims court — filing fee plus service of process, added together and cited to each court's own fee schedule.
Open tool →