Resources · Small claims

How Long You Have to Sue

Every claim has a clock. Miss it and you can lose the right to sue.

Last checked November 1, 2026 · 3 minute read

The short answer

Written contracts run 4 years in California and 6 in Nevada. Spoken agreements run 2 and 4. Property damage is 3 in both, and personal injury 2 in both.

The general limits

Claim	California	Nevada
Written contract	4 years	6 years
Spoken agreement	2 years	4 years
Damage to property	3 years	3 years
Personal injury	2 years	2 years
Fraud, from when found	3 years	3 years

Why your deadline may differ

The clock can start later than the event, or pause.
Contracts sometimes shorten it.
Claims against a government agency are far shorter. In California you must file a claim with the agency first.

Try the Deadline Estimator, then confirm with a lawyer if you're close.

Sources

Keep going

Free toolDeadline EstimatorA rough idea of how long you have to sue.Small claimsHow Small Claims Court WorksWhat it is, where to file, and what happens from start to finish.Getting helpFree Help, or a Lawyer?Where to get free help, and when paying a lawyer is worth it.

Want a lawyer to look at this?

Tell us what happened and compare prices before you pay anything.

Hire a Lawyer Start a Case

General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.