{"id":373948,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:31","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-05-30T12:39:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T17:39:40","slug":"massachusetts-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts Civil Statute of Limitations Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Massachusetts Civil Statute of Limitations Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\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

After experiencing an accident, damage, or harm, it is crucial to understand your legal rights and the limitation period for filing a claim. Massachusetts statutes of limitations<\/a> play a vital role in the legal system. They balance the plaintiff’s rights in seeking justice while protecting defendants from indefinite legal uncertainty.<\/p>\r\n

Whether you are dealing with property damage, personal injury, or other civil matters, learning about these limitation periods<\/a> is important. It can be the difference between having a day in court and losing your right to seek justice.<\/p>\r\n

This article offers a comprehensive overview of the Massachusetts civil statute of limitations.<\/p>\r\n

What Is a Statute of Limitations?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The statute of limitation<\/a> is the time limit set under the law for initiating a legal proceeding. Once this limitation period passes, the party can no longer file the civil case.<\/p>\r\n

The statute of limitations serves various purposes in civil cases<\/a>. For instance, it preserves the integrity of the evidence presented, protects the reliability of witnesses, and gives defendants a sense of finality by preventing indefinite legal uncertainty.<\/p>\r\n

Massachusetts Civil Statute of Limitations<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Like other states, Massachusetts established a limitation period for plaintiffs to file a civil action. This period often varies depending on the type of claim.<\/p>\r\n

In general, there is a three-year time limit for most civil cases. Some of these cases with a one-year statute of limitation include the following:<\/p>\r\n