{"id":375526,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:15","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/north-dakota-law\/north-dakota-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-02-25T12:43:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T17:43:46","slug":"north-dakota-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/north-dakota-law\/north-dakota-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"North Dakota Civil Statute of Limitations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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North Dakota Civil Statute of Limitations<\/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

If you suffered an injury through another person’s negligence and plan to sue for damages, you must file your lawsuit within the time limits established by the civil statute of limitations<\/a>. All civil actions and processes have a time limit, including judgments and collection on debt or rents. Different legal claims have different time limits but generally range from one to six years.<\/p>\r\n

This article gives a brief overview of the state of North Dakota’s civil statute of limitations laws<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

When Does the Civil Statute of Limitations Start in North Dakota?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The time frame for filing a lawsuit under North Dakota’s statute of limitations generally starts tolling<\/a> when the incident happens. But certain exceptions can extend this limitations period. One such exception is the "discovery rule," which allows plaintiffs to bring legal action even after the standard deadline has passed if they can demonstrate that the injury or legal issue was not discovered until recently. This rule is particularly significant in cases involving torts<\/a>, such as personal injury or wage discrimination<\/a>, where the harm may not be immediately apparent \u2014 for instance, a woman discovering years later that she was paid less than her male counterparts.<\/p>\r\n

North Dakota Civil Statute of Limitations: At a Glance<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Time limits for filing civil lawsuits in North Dakota range from two to 10 years, with a six-year statute of limitations for most civil actions. Personal injury<\/a> and injury to personal property lawsuits each have a six-year limit, while actions for defamation and professional malpractice have a two-year limit.<\/p>\r\n

The following chart lists more time limits for various civil actions in North Dakota. For more information, see FindLaw’s Injury Law Basics<\/a> section.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Injury to person<\/th>\r\n

Six years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-16<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Wrongful death<\/th>\r\n

Two years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-18<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

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

Two years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-18<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Fraud<\/th>\r\n

Six years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-16(6)<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

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

Six years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-16(4)<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Professional malpractice<\/th>\r\n

Two years; (medical: maximum six years) (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-18<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Trespass<\/th>\r\n

Six years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-16(3)<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Contracts<\/th>\r\n

Written: six years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-16(1)<\/a>); Oral: six years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-16(1)<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

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

Six years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-16(1)<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Judgments<\/th>\r\n

10 years (N.D.C.C. \u00a7 28-01-15<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Disclaimer: State laws tend to change quite regularly, usually when signed legislation is enacted but sometimes through the decisions of higher courts and other means. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of these pages, you also may want to contact a North Dakota personal injury attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state laws you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Research the Law<\/b><\/h2>\r\n