Maryland Statutes of Limitations
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By Susan Buckner, J.D. | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last reviewed April 28, 2025
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All states have statutes of limitations. These are limitations periods for prosecutors and plaintiffs to file cases in court. Criminal statutes give prosecutors filing deadlines for criminal charges. Civil statutes give plaintiffs time frames to begin legal actions in civil claims.
Criminal statutes of limitations protect a defendant's right to a speedy trial. Prosecutors must investigate crimes as they happen and charge suspects when there is enough evidence. Civil statutes ensure plaintiffs file lawsuits while evidence is available and witnesses' memories are fresh. They also ensure defendants don't have the threat of lawsuits hanging over their heads.
In Maryland, some crimes, such as murder and other serious felonies, have no statute of limitations. Most criminal cases have a three-year statute of limitations. Civil claims, such as personal injury cases, generally have a three-year limitations period.
If someone has accused you of a crime, hire a criminal defense attorney right away. If someone has wronged you and you think you have a civil lawsuit against them, hire a litigation attorney.
Tolling and the Discovery Rule
Sometimes, an injured party is not aware of the cause of their injury within the statute of limitations. For instance, a medical malpractice case may cause an injury that doesn't appear for many years after the operation. In these cases, the discovery rule allows a claimant to file a cause of action from the date they discovered the harm rather than the date of the injury.
Tolling suspends the statute for a certain time period under the law. Criminal tolling may happen when a defendant is unknown or out of the state and can't be found. Civil tolling happens when the claimant is underage or unable to file a claim due to mental disability.
Maryland Statutes of Limitations
Maryland's Code of Courts and Judicial Proceedings contains the state's civil and criminal statutes of limitation (Cts. & Jud. Proc. §5-101 et seq.).
Maryland Civil Statute of Limitations
Almost all civil actions have a three-year statute of limitations.
Maryland Criminal Statute of Limitations
Under Maryland law, serious felonies such as murder, rape, and misdemeanors punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary have no time limit.
Computer crimes, violations of state election laws, and most misdemeanor offenses have a three-year statute of limitations.
Driver's license violations and neglect of a vulnerable adult have a one-year statute of limitations.
Get Legal Advice from a Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have a personal injury claim, you must meet the statutory deadline or risk losing your case. The best course of action is to get legal advice from an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney who can review your personal injury lawsuit.