{"id":374873,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:56","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-hampshire-law\/new-hampshire-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-11-22T10:48:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T15:48:10","slug":"new-hampshire-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-hampshire-law\/new-hampshire-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"New Hampshire Civil Statute of Limitations Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New Hampshire Civil Statute of Limitations Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Olivia Wathne, 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

Civil statutes of limitations set the maximum period of time that a plaintiff has to start a legal proceeding from the date of an alleged offense. These time limits ensure the integrity and "freshness" of physical evidence and witness testimony. They also discourage the indefinite threat of lawsuits. In personal injury claims<\/a>, this period of time is crucial to consider.<\/p>\r\n

The discovery rule<\/a> is the main exception to the time limits on civil lawsuits. According to this rule, the statute of limitations does not begin to run at the time of the injury. Instead, it starts when the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered the injury.<\/p>\r\n

Criminal law also has statutes of limitations. In that case, the prosecutor must file criminal charges within a specific time for most crimes.<\/p>\r\n

New Hampshire Civil Statute of Limitations at a Glance<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Statutes of limitations<\/a> vary by state and the types of civil action, and they generally range from one to five years. In the state of New Hampshire, the limitations period for most civil actions is three years. The clock starts ticking at the time of the incident in most cases, but certain circumstances can toll the limitations period<\/a>, extending the amount of time you have to file a claim.<\/p>\r\n

The following chart lists the time limits for various civil actions in New Hampshire. See FindLaw’s Injury Law Basics<\/a> section for more information.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Injury to person<\/th>\r\n

Three years \u00a7508:4<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Libel\/slander<\/th>\r\n

Three years \u00a7508:4<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Fraud<\/th>\r\n

Three years \u00a7508:4<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Injury to personal property<\/th>\r\n

Three years \u00a7508:4<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Professional malpractice<\/th>\r\n

Three years \u00a7508:4<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Trespass<\/th>\r\n

Two years \u00a7539:8<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Collection of rents<\/th>\r\n

Four years \u00a7382-A:2A-506<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Contracts<\/th>\r\n

Written: 20 years under seal \u00a7508:5<\/a>; oral: three years \u00a7508:4<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Collection of debt on account<\/th>\r\n

Written: 20 years under seal \u00a7508:5<\/a>; oral: three years \u00a7508:4<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Judgments<\/th>\r\n

20 years \u00a7508:5<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Disclaimer: State laws are subject to change at any time through the enactment of newly signed legislation, decisions from higher courts, and other means. We strive to ensure the accuracy of these pages. But you should contact a New Hampshire personal injury attorney or do further research to verify that this article’s information is accurate.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

New Hampshire Civil Statute of Limitations: Related Resources<\/b><\/h2>\r\n