--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Arkansas license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Arkansas Arkansas's civil statute-of-limitations periods for 9 common causes of action, each as a recorded claim carrying the statute citation and URL so a consuming agent can verify it at the cited code — plus the single interpretive L5 boundary: these are the statutes as written, NOT any person's actual deadline (accrual, the discovery rule, tolling, and statutes of repose are fact-specific legal determinations). The atlas informs and routes to counsel; it never computes a deadline. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026). CC0. ## Claims ### Arkansas sets a 1 year (slander) / 3 years (libel) civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Ark. Code § 16-56-104) **RECORDED.** Under Ark. Code § 16-56-104, the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Arkansas is 1 year (slander) / 3 years (libel). Note: Single-publication rule; tolling for minors.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-56/subchapter-1/section-16-56-104/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Arkansas sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Ark. Code § 16-114-203) **RECORDED.** Under Ark. Code § 16-114-203, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Arkansas is 2 years. Note: Foreign-object cases: 1 year from discovery; minor tolling limited.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-114/section-16-114-203/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Arkansas sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Ark. Code § 16-56-105) **RECORDED.** Under Ark. Code § 16-56-105, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Arkansas is 3 years. Note: Standard tolling for minors and incompetents.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-56/subchapter-1/section-16-56-105/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Arkansas sets a 3 years from discovery civil statute of limitations for fraud (Ark. Code § 16-56-105) **RECORDED.** Under Ark. Code § 16-56-105, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Arkansas is 3 years from discovery. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Fraudulent concealment tolls limitations.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-56/subchapter-1/section-16-56-105/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Arkansas sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Ark. Code § 16-56-105) **RECORDED.** Under Ark. Code § 16-56-105, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Arkansas is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Minors toll until age 21 under § 16-56-116.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-56/subchapter-1/section-16-56-105/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Arkansas sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Ark. Code § 16-116-103) **RECORDED.** Under Ark. Code § 16-116-103, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Arkansas is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Standard tolling for minors and incompetents.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-116/section-16-116-103/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Arkansas sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Ark. Code § 16-56-105) **RECORDED.** Under Ark. Code § 16-56-105, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Arkansas is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Standard tolling for minors and incompetents.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-56/subchapter-1/section-16-56-105/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Arkansas sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Ark. Code § 16-62-102) **RECORDED.** Under Ark. Code § 16-62-102, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Arkansas is 3 years. Note: Nonsuit gives 1 additional year regardless of death date; longer period if defendant convicted of murder/manslaughter.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-62/section-16-62-102/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Arkansas sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Ark. Code § 16-56-111) **RECORDED.** Under Ark. Code § 16-56-111, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Arkansas is 5 years. Note: UCC sales 4 yrs under § 4-2-725.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-16/subtitle-5/chapter-56/subchapter-1/section-16-56-111/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Why these statute-of-limitations periods are NOT your deadline (the L5 boundary) **INTERPRETATION.** The periods above are the statutes Arkansas has on the books. They do NOT tell you YOUR deadline. When a claim "accrues" (starts the clock), whether the discovery rule, tolling, a minor/incapacity, or a statute of repose changes it, and which cause of action even applies, are fact-specific legal determinations. A missed deadline can permanently bar a claim. This atlas informs and routes — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for a licensed attorney. If you may have a claim, consult an attorney in Arkansas immediately; for free civil legal aid see this state's legal-aid page. Source: Justice Atlas framing (over the statutes above) — https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/ Falsifier: occurred=FALSE (a framing/legal boundary, not an event) and adjudged=FALSE (the atlas's reading, not a court's ruling on any case) — the lowest-warrant claim. The period+citation claims above are recorded statutes (verifiable at the cited code); this boundary is the only interpretation. --- Every claim above carries a four-status warrant (RECORDED / MODELED / DERIVED / INTERPRETATION) and a named source you can re-fetch — this is a research object, not a flat fact. Structured: `https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ar.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Arkansas — statutes as written RECORDED statutes (verify at each cited code). Not your actual deadline — accrual, tolling, and which claim applies are fact-specific. Consult a licensed attorney. | Claim | Deadline | Statute | Notes | Warrant | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Defamation (libel / slander) | 1 year (slander) / 3 years (libel) | Ark. Code § 16-56-104 | Single-publication rule; tolling for minors. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 2 years | Ark. Code § 16-114-203 | Foreign-object cases: 1 year from discovery; minor tolling limited. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 3 years | Ark. Code § 16-56-105 | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 3 years from discovery | Ark. Code § 16-56-105 | discovery rule; Fraudulent concealment tolls limitations. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | Ark. Code § 16-56-105 | discovery rule; Minors toll until age 21 under § 16-56-116. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | Ark. Code § 16-116-103 | discovery rule; Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 3 years | Ark. Code § 16-56-105 | discovery rule; Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years | Ark. Code § 16-62-102 | Nonsuit gives 1 additional year regardless of death date; longer period if defendant convicted of murder/manslaughter. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 5 years | Ark. Code § 16-56-111 | UCC sales 4 yrs under § 4-2-725. | RECORDED |