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North Carolina Statute of Limitations (2026)

Civil filing deadlines in North Carolina under N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 1 — unusually uniform, with a three-year period covering injury, contract, property, and fraud alike.

✓ Last verified: Sep 2026

Claim Types

claim types tracked

Filing Range

1–3

year filing range

Govt. Notice

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 for any injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract and not otherwise enumerated.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5) ✓ Verified

3 YEARS

Medical Malpractice

Three years from the last act of the defendant giving rise to the claim, with a four-year statute of repose.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-15(c) ✓ Verified

3 YEARS

Written Contract

Three years from breach — North Carolina gives contract claims one of the shortest windows in the country.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1) ✓ Verified

3 YEARS

Property Damage

Three years for taking, detaining, converting, or injuring goods or chattels.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(4) ✓ Verified

1 YEARS

Defamation

One year for libel or slander.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-54(3) ✓ Verified

3 YEARS

Product Liability

Three years for personal injury from a defective product, subject to a twelve-year statute of repose.

N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 1-52(16), 1-46.1 Unverified

2 YEARS

Wrongful Death

Two years from the date of death.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-53(4) ✓ Verified

3 YEARS

Fraud

Three years, with the cause of action not deemed to have accrued until discovery of the facts constituting the fraud.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(9) ✓ Verified

3 YEARS

Breach of Oral Contract

Three years — the same period as a written contract, since § 1-52(1) does not distinguish between them.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1) ✓ Verified

3 YEARS

Legal Malpractice

Three years from the last act giving rise to the claim, with the same four-year repose that applies to medical malpractice.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-15(c) ✓ Verified

1 YEARS

Assault & Battery

One year — a third of the time an ordinary negligence claim gets, because intentional torts are pulled into the one-year section.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-54(3) ✓ Verified

3 YEARS

Trespass to Land

Three years for trespass upon real property.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(3) ✓ Verified

years

Government claims notice

Generally 3 years, subject to immunity limits — N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 1-52, 143-299 North Carolina does not impose a short universal notice-of-claim form. Claims against the State go to the Industrial Commission under the Tort Claims Act, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-291 et seq., with a three-year period under § 143-299. Local governments retain governmental immunity except where waived by purchasing liability insurance, and some city charters impose their own notice requirements. The immunity question usually matters more here than the deadline.

Common Questions About North Carolina Deadlines

What is the statute of limitations in North Carolina?

It depends on the type of claim. North Carolina filing deadlines range from 1 year to 3 years — for example, personal injury 3 years, breach of a written contract 3 years, medical malpractice 3 years, defamation 1 year.

How long do you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in North Carolina?

3 years under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5). Three years for any injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract and not otherwise enumerated. Full personal injury rules →

What is the statute of limitations for wrongful death in North Carolina?

2 years under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-53(4). Two years from the date of death. Full wrongful death rules →

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in North Carolina?

3 years under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-15(c). Three years from the last act of the defendant giving rise to the claim, with a four-year statute of repose. Full medical malpractice rules →

What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in North Carolina?

3 years under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1). Three years from breach — North Carolina gives contract claims one of the shortest windows in the country. Full breach of a written contract rules →

How long do you have to sue for defamation in North Carolina?

1 year under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-54(3). One year for libel or slander. Full defamation rules →

What is the statute of limitations for property damage in North Carolina?

3 years under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(4). Three years for taking, detaining, converting, or injuring goods or chattels. Full property damage rules →

Do you have to notify the government before suing in North Carolina?

Often, yes. Generally 3 years, subject to immunity limits under N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 1-52, 143-299. 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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North Carolina Statute of Limitations (2026)

Common Questions About North Carolina Deadlines

What is the statute of limitations in North Carolina?

How long do you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in North Carolina?

What is the statute of limitations for wrongful death in North Carolina?

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in North Carolina?

What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in North Carolina?

How long do you have to sue for defamation in North Carolina?

What is the statute of limitations for property damage in North Carolina?

Do you have to notify the government before suing in North Carolina?

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