--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for California license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for California California'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 ### California sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340(c)) **RECORDED.** Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340(c), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in California is 1 year. 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://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=340 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### California sets a 3 years (1 yr after discovery) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.5) **RECORDED.** Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.5, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in California is 3 years (1 yr after discovery). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 3 year(s) may also bar the claim; Minor tolling under § 340.5; MICRA framework.. 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://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=340.5 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. ### California sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 339) **RECORDED.** Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 339, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in California is 2 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://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=339 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. ### California sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1) **RECORDED.** Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in California is 2 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Tolling for minors and insanity under § 352.. 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://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=335.1 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. ### California sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1) **RECORDED.** Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in California is 2 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); No general repose; standard 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://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=335.1 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. ### California sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1) **RECORDED.** Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in California is 2 years. Note: Med-mal wrongful death follows § 340.5; standard tolling.. 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://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=335.1 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. ### California sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 338(d)) **RECORDED.** Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 338(d), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in California 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://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=338 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. ### California sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 338) **RECORDED.** Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 338, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in California is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Personal injury follows § 335.1 (2 yr); discovery rule applies.. 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://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=338 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. ### California sets a 4 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 337) **RECORDED.** Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 337, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in California is 4 years. Note: UCC sales 4 yrs under Com. Code § 2725.. 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://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=337 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 California 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 California 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/ca.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in California — 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 | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340(c) | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 3 years (1 yr after discovery) | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.5 | discovery rule; repose 3y; Minor tolling under § 340.5; MICRA framework. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 2 years | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 339 | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 2 years | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1 | discovery rule; Tolling for minors and insanity under § 352. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 2 years | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1 | discovery rule; No general repose; standard tolling for minors. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 2 years | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1 | Med-mal wrongful death follows § 340.5; standard tolling. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 3 years | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 338(d) | discovery rule; Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 3 years | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 338 | discovery rule; Personal injury follows § 335.1 (2 yr); discovery rule applies. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 4 years | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 337 | UCC sales 4 yrs under Com. Code § 2725. | RECORDED |