{"id":376421,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:48","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/tennessee-law\/tennessee-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-03-26T14:51:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T19:51:19","slug":"tennessee-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/tennessee-law\/tennessee-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee Civil Statute of Limitations Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tennessee Civil Statute of Limitations<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, 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

In civil cases, state laws impose time limits on a plaintiff’s ability to file their cause of action. These laws are civil statutes of limitations<\/a>. <\/p>\r\n

The states have different statutes of limitations<\/a> for specific types of legal action. For instance, Tennessee law only gives you one year to file a personal injury lawsuit but three years to sue someone for fraud.<\/p>\r\n

Tennessee’s civil statute of limitations period for personal injury claims<\/a> is much shorter than in other states. Usually, you have two or three years to pursue a civil action. If you don’t file your civil case before the statute of limitations period expires, you’ll lose your right to file suit.<\/p>\r\n

This is why you must get to know Tennessee’s civil statute of limitations<\/a>. Here, we’ll explain the filing deadlines for civil cases in the state of Tennessee.<\/p>\r\n

Are There Exceptions to the Civil Statutes of Limitations in Tennessee?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Tennessee law requires the courts to apply the statutes of limitations strictly. But, as with most other things, there are a few exceptions. For example, if the plaintiff is under 18<\/a> at the time of their accident, the statute of limitations period doesn’t start until they turn 18.<\/p>\r\n

Some of the other cases in which the courts may toll (pause)<\/a> the statute of limitations include:<\/p>\r\n