{"id":376681,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/texas-law\/texas-statutes-of-limitations.html"},"modified":"2025-06-03T14:12:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T19:12:44","slug":"texas-statutes-of-limitations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/texas-law\/texas-statutes-of-limitations.html","title":{"rendered":"Texas Statutes of Limitations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n Texas Statutes of Limitations\n <\/h1>\n \n Statutes of limitations define the time period in which a lawsuit or other civil action must be filed, as measured from the date of the incident.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, 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

Statutes of limitations define the time period in which you must file your civil lawsuit. They also dictate how long the prosecutor has to pursue criminal charges against a would-be defendant.<\/p>\r\n

States have different statutes of limitations<\/a> depending on the type of civil action or crime, and Texas is no different. For instance, Texas law imposes a four-year time limit for fraud but a seven-year statute of limitations for arson charges.<\/p>\r\n

Click on the links below to learn more about the statutes of limitations in Texas.<\/p>\r\n

Why Do We Have Statutes of Limitations?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Lawmakers implemented statutes of limitations to ensure that factfinders, be they judges or juries, make decisions based on reliable and credible evidence. Over time, people\u2019s memories fade and change. Prosecutors and defense attorneys can lose evidence or track of witnesses.<\/p>\r\n

Texas law increases the chances of a fair justice system by requiring parties to commence legal actions within a specific timeframe. This is why the courts strictly apply filing deadlines. If you don\u2019t file your civil lawsuit before the civil statute of limitations expires, you\u2019ll lose your chance to pursue damages.<\/p>\r\n

The same is true for criminal cases. If the state prosecutor fails to bring criminal charges against an alleged defendant within the statute of limitations period, they will lose the chance to prosecute the case.<\/p>\r\n

Can the State Still Press Charges if the Prosecutor Misses the Criminal Statute of Limitations?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

If law enforcement arrests a suspect for sexual assault, the statute of limitations for that offense in the State of Texas is ten years. The prosecutor\u2019s office has that amount of time to collect evidence against the would-be defendant and press charges before the window of opportunity closes.<\/p>\r\n

If a suspect leaves the state and goes to school abroad, the statute of limitations on the crime pauses, or "tolls," until the defendant returns to Texas. If the statute of limitations restarts and passes after their return without the prosecutor filing charges, they cannot be tried for that offence. Under Texas law, it would not be fair for someone to look over their shoulder and wait for the state to file charges forever.<\/p>\r\n

Learn More About Texas Statutes of Limitations<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The following FindLaw sections discuss Texas\u2019s statute of limitation laws.<\/p>\r\n

Texas Civil Statute of Limitations<\/a><\/p>\r\n

This article explains Texas statutes of limitations (time limits) for filing civil complaints. This page discusses various types of civil lawsuits, including the following:<\/p>\r\n