Defamation Statute of Limitations by State

The deadline to file a defamation lawsuit ranges from 1 to 3 years depending on the state. Pick your state below — every page shows the exact statute, when the clock starts, and the exceptions that can extend (or shorten) your time. Each deadline links to its official state statute.

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State-by-State Deadlines

StateDeadlineOfficial statute (source)
Alabama 2 yrs Ala. Code § 6-2-38(k)
Alaska 2 yrs AS 09.10.070(a)(1)
Arizona 1 yr A.R.S. § 12-541(1)
Arkansas 3 yrs Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105(5) (libel, 3 yr); § 16-56-104(3) (slander, 1 yr)
California 1 yr Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 340(c)
Colorado 1 yr C.R.S. § 13-80-103(1)(a)
Connecticut 2 yrs Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-597
Delaware 2 yrs 10 Del. C. § 8119
District of Columbia 1 yr D.C. Code § 12-301(4)
Florida 2 yrs Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(h)
Georgia 1 yr O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Hawaii 2 yrs Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-4
Idaho 2 yrs Idaho Code § 5-219(5)
Illinois 1 yr 735 ILCS 5/13-201
Indiana 2 yrs Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4
Iowa 2 yrs Iowa Code § 614.1(2)
Kansas 1 yr K.S.A. § 60-514(a)
Kentucky 1 yr KRS § 413.140(1)(d)
Louisiana 2 yrs La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3493.1
Maine 2 yrs 14 M.R.S. § 753
Maryland 1 yr Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-105
Massachusetts 3 yrs M.G.L. c. 260, § 4
Michigan 1 yr MCL § 600.5805(11)
Minnesota 2 yrs Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1)
Mississippi 1 yr Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-35
Missouri 2 yrs Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.140
Montana 2 yrs Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(3)
Nebraska 1 yr Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-208
Nevada 2 yrs Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(c)
New Hampshire 3 yrs N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4
New Jersey 1 yr N.J.S.A. 2A:14-3
New Mexico 3 yrs NMSA 1978 § 37-1-8
New York 1 yr N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 215
North Carolina 1 yr N.C.G.S. § 1-54(3)
North Dakota 2 yrs N.D.C.C. § 28-01-18
Ohio 1 yr Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.11(A)
Oklahoma 1 yr Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(4)
Oregon 1 yr ORS 12.120(2)
Pennsylvania 1 yr 42 Pa.C.S. § 5523(1)
Rhode Island 3 yrs R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14
South Carolina 2 yrs S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-550(1)
South Dakota 2 yrs SDCL § 15-2-15
Tennessee 1 yr Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1)(A)
Texas 1 yr Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.002
Utah 1 yr Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-302
Vermont 3 yrs 12 V.S.A. § 512
Virginia 1 yr Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-247.1
Washington 2 yrs Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.100
West Virginia 1 yr W. Va. Code § 55-2-12
Wisconsin 3 yrs Wis. Stat. § 893.57
Wyoming 1 yr Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(v)(A)

Source: official state statutes, linked per row. Coverage expands as each state is verified — see methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you have to file a defamation lawsuit?

It depends on the state: 1 to 3 years depending on the state across the 51 states covered so far. Every deadline below links to its official statute.

Which state has the shortest deadline for defamation and libel claims?

Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming — 1 year. Some states carry additional notice requirements that are even shorter, especially for claims against government entities.

Which state allows the most time for defamation and libel claims?

Arkansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin — 3 years. Exceptions like the discovery rule or tolling for minors can extend deadlines further in some states.

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Legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have fact-specific exceptions — confirm with the cited statute or a licensed attorney in your state.