{"id":373209,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:14","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/indiana-law\/indiana-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-04-04T13:59:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T18:59:23","slug":"indiana-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/indiana-law\/indiana-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Indiana Civil Statute of Limitations Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Indiana Civil Statute of Limitations<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Every state has time limits, called statutes of limitations, for filing lawsuits and other civil actions. Indiana’s civil statute of limitations<\/a> laws are generally like other states<\/a>. Indiana’s statutes of limitations range from two to 20 years, depending on the particular type of case. The limitations period begins when the incident happens. For instance, a personal injury case has a two-year statute of limitations, starting when the accident happens.<\/p>\r\n

If the plaintiff could not reasonably discover<\/a> the injury within the statutory time frame, Indiana law allows them to bring a cause of action after learning of the harm. For example, a toxic exposure might cause an illness not discovered until many years later. The plaintiff still has two years to bring legal action against the manufacturer.<\/p>\r\n

Statutes of limitation ensure that tort claims get filed on time. Plaintiffs must bring claims in a reasonable period of time, while evidence<\/a> is available and witness memories are fresh. Defendants should not have the threat of litigation hanging over their heads indefinitely.<\/p>\r\n

Indiana’s criminal statutes of limitation<\/a> protect a defendant’s right to a speedy trial. The criminal statutes of limitation put time limits on the prosecution. Contact an Indiana personal injury attorney<\/a> if you need help filing a lawsuit.<\/p>\r\n

Tolling<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

If a plaintiff can’t file a civil lawsuit because they are under a legal disability, the Indiana statute of limitations pauses, or is "tolled<\/a>," until the disability ends. A legal disability is:<\/p>\r\n