Texas Statute of Limitations (2026)
Civil filing deadlines in Texas under the Civil Practice and Remedies Code — most personal injury and property claims run on a two-year clock, with contract and fraud claims at four.
✓ Last verified: Sep 2026
Common Questions About Texas Deadlines
What is the statute of limitations in Texas?
It depends on the type of claim. Texas filing deadlines range from 1 year to 4 years — for example, personal injury 2 years, breach of a written contract 4 years, medical malpractice 2 years, defamation 1 year.
How long do you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas?
2 years under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a). Two years after the day the cause of action accrues. Section 16.003(a) names personal injury alongside trespass, conversion, and taking or detaining personal property. Full personal injury rules →
What is the statute of limitations for wrongful death in Texas?
2 years under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b). Two years after the day the cause of action accrues, for an action for injury resulting in death. Full wrongful death rules →
What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Texas?
2 years under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.251. Two years from the occurrence of the breach or tort, or from the date the treatment or hospitalisation at issue was completed. Full medical malpractice rules →
What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in Texas?
4 years under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051. Four years. Breach of contract has no express limitations section; it falls under the residual four-year period in § 16.051, and a suit on a debt is covered expressly by § 16.004(a… Full breach of a written contract rules →
How long do you have to sue for defamation in Texas?
1 year under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.002(a). One year after the day the cause of action accrues. Section 16.002(a) covers malicious prosecution, libel, slander, and breach of promise of marriage. Full defamation rules →
What is the statute of limitations for property damage in Texas?
2 years under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a). Two years. Section 16.003(a) covers trespass for injury to the estate or property of another, conversion of personal property, and taking or detaining the personal property of anot… Full property damage rules →
Do you have to notify the government before suing in Texas?
Often, yes. Written notice to the governmental unit within 6 months under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101. This is usually much shorter than the ordinary deadline.