Minnesota Civil Statute of Limitations Laws

By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Christie Nicholson, J.D. | Last updated February 19, 2025

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Key Takeaways

Minnesota’s civil statute of limitations sets time limits for filing lawsuits to ensure timely and reliable adjudication. Personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years, while breaches of contract have a six-year limit. Product liability varies between four and six years. Knowing these deadlines is crucial as missing them can lead to the dismissal of the case, barring recovery of any damages.

Every state has time limits for filing a civil action, called statutes of limitation. These laws prevent a party from threatening a lawsuit indefinitely and help ensure that factfinders determine liability using reliable and fresh evidence.

The statute of limitations periods vary for different types of causes of action, including personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice.

This article provides a brief overview of Minnesota’s civil statute of limitations.

Overview of Minnesota’s Civil Statute of Limitations

The Minnesota statutes of limitations for civil cases range from two years for personal injury to 10 years for judgments and liens. Other claims, such as personal property damage and trespass, have a six-year statute of limitations. The same is true for breach of contract.

The following chart summarizes the State of Minnesota’s time limits for civil lawsuits and has links to the applicable statute of limitations.

Personal injury	Two years (Minn Stat. § 541.07(1))
Product liability	Four years (Minn. Stat. § 544.41) The statute of limitations is six years for product liability cases involving negligence.
Libel/slander	Two years (Minn Stat. § 541.07(1))
Fraud	Six years (Minn. Stat. § 541.05(6))
Personal property damage	Six years (Minn. Stat. § 541.05(4))
Professional malpractice	Veterinary/medical malpractice: Two years (Minn Stat. § 541.07(1))
Trespass	Six years (Minn. Stat. § 541.05(3))
False imprisonment	Two years (Minn Stat. § 541.07(1))
Collection of rents	Four years (Minn. Stat. § 336.2A-506)
Breach of contract	Six years (Minn. Stat. § 541.05(1))
Collection of debt on account	Six years (Minn. Stat. § 541.053)
Judgments	10 years (Minn. Stat. § 541.04)

Disclaimer: State laws are subject to change through new legislation, higher court rulings, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information, consult a personal injury attorney to verify your state laws and learn how they might apply to your unique case.

What if I Miss the Deadline?

If you don’t file your civil claim within the period of time under Minnesota law, the court will dismiss your case, and you’ll lose your right to recover damages. If the court doesn’t notice that your claim is out of time, the defendant will file a motion to dismiss, asking that the court dismiss your complaint.

There are situations in which the court may extend the statute of limitations period. But these cases are few and far between.

Generally, the court may make an exception in the following circumstances:

The plaintiff is a minor
The injured party is mentally incapacitated
The defendant moves out of state or evades service of process

The court may also toll the statute of limitations under the Discovery Rule. Under this rule, the statute of limitations period doesn’t start until the plaintiff discovers (or should have discovered) their injury.

To ensure you file your legal action in time, contact an experienced personal injury attorney sooner rather than later.

Questions About Minnesota Civil Statute of Limitations Laws? Talk To a Lawyer

If you miss the statute of limitations, you’ll lose the opportunity to recover damages for your injuries. Rather than risk this, you should contact a skilled injury attorney in Minnesota immediately. They can explain legal issues and help ensure you file your claim properly and on time.

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