Texas Statutes of Limitations

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.

By Christie Nicholson, J.D. | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last reviewed June 03, 2025

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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.

States have different statutes of limitations 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.

Click on the links below to learn more about the statutes of limitations in Texas.

Why Do We Have Statutes of Limitations?

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’s memories fade and change. Prosecutors and defense attorneys can lose evidence or track of witnesses.

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’t file your civil lawsuit before the civil statute of limitations expires, you’ll lose your chance to pursue damages.

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.

Can the State Still Press Charges if the Prosecutor Misses the Criminal Statute of Limitations?

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’s office has that amount of time to collect evidence against the would-be defendant and press charges before the window of opportunity closes.

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.

Learn More About Texas Statutes of Limitations

The following FindLaw sections discuss Texas’s statute of limitation laws.

Texas Civil Statute of Limitations

This article explains Texas statutes of limitations (time limits) for filing civil complaints. This page discusses various types of civil lawsuits, including the following:

Personal injury
False imprisonment
Libel, slander, and defamation
Fraud
Personal property damage
Professional malpractice
Trespassing
Breach of contract
Creditor rights claims

Texas Criminal Statute of Limitations

This page explains the criminal statutes of limitations for prosecutors to bring criminal charges in the Lone Star State. These filing deadlines apply to all felonies and misdemeanors, including:

Insurance fraud
Bigamy
Kidnapping and aggravated kidnapping
Misapplication of fiduciary property
Money laundering
First-degree murder
Public indecency
Continuous trafficking of persons
Medicaid fraud
Use of forged instruments

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure governs the criminal statutes of limitations. FindLaw provides links to the specific sections of the code for each type of crime.

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Texas Law

Contact a Texas Criminal Defense Attorney or Personal Injury Lawyer for Help

If you have questions about the statutes of limitations in your state, a local attorney can help. A personal injury attorney will help ensure you file your civil case on time. A local criminal defense lawyer can defend you if the state attempts to pursue criminal charges beyond the statute of limitations period.

Learn About Texas Statutes of Limitations

Texas Civil Statute of Limitations

FindLaw looks at statutes of limitations (time limits for filing your complaint) for civil lawsuits in Texas, including personal injury; false imprisonment; defamation; fraud; damage to personal property; professional malpractice; and trespassing.

Texas Criminal Statute of Limitations

Learn about statutes of limitations for prosecutors to bring criminal charges in the Lone Star State, whether they are felonies or misdemeanors, and related information in this FindLaw article.