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New Hampshire Statute of Limitations (2026)

Civil filing deadlines in New Hampshire under RSA 508:4 — a single three-year period covering nearly every civil claim, with the discovery rule written into the statute itself.

✓ Last verified: Sep 2026
Claim Types
12
claim types tracked
Filing Range
3–3
year filing range
Govt. Notice
0.5
yrs to notify govt.
1 of these entries are marked “Unverified.” They have been added to the register but not yet checked line-by-line against the current statute text. Treat those figures as a starting point only, and confirm the citation at its official source before relying on it.
3 YEARS
Personal Injury
Three years from the act or omission — with the discovery rule written into the same subsection.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Medical Malpractice
Three years from the act or omission, or from discovery of the injury and its causal relationship.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Written Contract
Three years — short by national standards, where six years is common.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Property Damage
Three years for property damage, on the same clock as everything else.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Defamation
Three years — New Hampshire is one of the few states that gives defamation the same period as everything else.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, II ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Product Liability
Three years, with the codified discovery rule applying to latent product injuries.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Wrongful Death
Three years under RSA 508:4, from the act or omission, with the statutory discovery rule. The six years in RSA 556:11 is an outer bound, not the working deadline.
N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 508:4, 556:11 ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Fraud
Three years, with the statutory discovery rule delaying accrual until the injury and its causal relationship were or should have been discovered.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Breach of Oral Contract
Three years — the same as a written contract.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Legal Malpractice
Three years, with the codified discovery rule.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Assault & Battery
Three years, under the general personal actions period.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Trespass to Land
Three years under the general period, though a two-year trespass provision is reported elsewhere in ch. 508.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I Unverified
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Legal Forms
0.5
years
Government claims notice
Notice within 180 days for municipal claims — N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 507-B:7, 541-B:14 RSA ch. 507-B governs claims against governmental units and requires notice within 180 days of the cause of action, along with damages caps. Claims against the State run through the Board of Claims under RSA ch. 541-B. Both sit on top of the three-year § 508:4 period. Not confirmed against primary text; URL needs repointing.

Common Questions About New Hampshire Deadlines

What is the statute of limitations in New Hampshire?

It depends on the type of claim. New Hampshire filing deadlines range from 3 years to 3 years — for example, personal injury 3 years, breach of a written contract 3 years, medical malpractice 3 years, defamation 3 years.

How long do you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Hampshire?

3 years under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I. Three years from the act or omission — with the discovery rule written into the same subsection. Full personal injury rules →

What is the statute of limitations for wrongful death in New Hampshire?

3 years under N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 508:4, 556:11. Three years under RSA 508:4, from the act or omission, with the statutory discovery rule. The six years in RSA 556:11 is an outer bound, not the working deadline. Full wrongful death rules →

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in New Hampshire?

3 years under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I. Three years from the act or omission, or from discovery of the injury and its causal relationship. Full medical malpractice rules →

What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in New Hampshire?

3 years under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I. Three years — short by national standards, where six years is common. Full breach of a written contract rules →

How long do you have to sue for defamation in New Hampshire?

3 years under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, II. Three years — New Hampshire is one of the few states that gives defamation the same period as everything else. Full defamation rules →

What is the statute of limitations for property damage in New Hampshire?

3 years under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, I. Three years for property damage, on the same clock as everything else. Full property damage rules →

Do you have to notify the government before suing in New Hampshire?

Often, yes. Notice within 180 days for municipal claims under N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 507-B:7, 541-B:14. This is usually much shorter than the ordinary deadline.

Know your rights — check the claim type that matches your situation, then confirm the deadline with a licensed attorney.
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