--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for District of Columbia license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for District of Columbia District of Columbia'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 ### District of Columbia sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(4)) **RECORDED.** Under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(4), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in District of Columbia is 1 year. Note: Single-publication rule; 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### District of Columbia sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (D.C. Code § 16-2702) **RECORDED.** Under D.C. Code § 16-2702, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in District of Columbia is 2 years. Note: Extended from 1 to 2 years by 2013 amendment.. 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-2702 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### District of Columbia sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7)) **RECORDED.** Under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in District of Columbia 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301 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. ### District of Columbia sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7)) **RECORDED.** Under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in District of Columbia is 3 years. Note: an outer statute of repose of 12 year(s) may also bar the claim; UCC sales 4 yrs under § 28:2-725.. 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301 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. ### District of Columbia sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8)) **RECORDED.** Under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in District of Columbia is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Fraudulent concealment tolls accrual.. 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301 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. ### District of Columbia sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8)) **RECORDED.** Under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8), the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in District of Columbia is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Continuing-treatment doctrine may toll.. 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301 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. ### District of Columbia sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8)) **RECORDED.** Under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in District of Columbia is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Standard tolling for minors and incompetents under § 12-302.. 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301 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. ### District of Columbia sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8)) **RECORDED.** Under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in District of Columbia is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); No statute of repose; 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301 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. ### District of Columbia sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(3)) **RECORDED.** Under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(3), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in District of Columbia is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Recovery of real property: 15 yrs under § 12-301(a)(1).. 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301 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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia 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/dc.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in District of Columbia — 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 | D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(4) | Single-publication rule; standard tolling. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 2 years | D.C. Code § 16-2702 | Extended from 1 to 2 years by 2013 amendment. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 3 years | D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7) | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 3 years | D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7) | repose 12y; UCC sales 4 yrs under § 28:2-725. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 3 years | D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8) | discovery rule; Fraudulent concealment tolls accrual. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 3 years | D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8) | discovery rule; Continuing-treatment doctrine may toll. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8) | discovery rule; Standard tolling for minors and incompetents under § 12-302. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8) | discovery rule; No statute of repose; standard tolling. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 3 years | D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(3) | discovery rule; Recovery of real property: 15 yrs under § 12-301(a)(1). | RECORDED |