--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Iowa license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Iowa Iowa'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 ### Iowa sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Iowa Code § 614.1(2)) **RECORDED.** Under Iowa Code § 614.1(2), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Iowa is 2 years. Note: Single-publication 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://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Iowa sets a 2 years (6-year repose) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Iowa Code § 614.1(9)) **RECORDED.** Under Iowa Code § 614.1(9), the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Iowa is 2 years (6-year repose). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 6 year(s) may also bar the claim; Foreign-object exception preserves discovery 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://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Iowa sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Iowa Code § 614.1(2)) **RECORDED.** Under Iowa Code § 614.1(2), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Iowa is 2 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Standard tolling for minors and incompetents under § 614.8.. 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://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf 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. ### Iowa sets a 2 years (15-year repose) civil statute of limitations for product liability (Iowa Code § 614.1(2A)) **RECORDED.** Under Iowa Code § 614.1(2A), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Iowa is 2 years (15-year repose). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 15 year(s) may also bar the claim; Exception for express warranties of longer duration.. 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://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf 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. ### Iowa sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Iowa Code § 614.1(2)) **RECORDED.** Under Iowa Code § 614.1(2), the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Iowa 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://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf 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. ### Iowa sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Iowa Code § 614.1(4)) **RECORDED.** Under Iowa Code § 614.1(4), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Iowa is 5 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://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf 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. ### Iowa sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Iowa Code § 614.1(4)) **RECORDED.** Under Iowa Code § 614.1(4), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Iowa is 5 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Fraudulent concealment further 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://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf 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. ### Iowa sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Iowa Code § 614.1(4)) **RECORDED.** Under Iowa Code § 614.1(4), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Iowa is 5 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://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf 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. ### Iowa sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Iowa Code § 614.1(5)) **RECORDED.** Under Iowa Code § 614.1(5), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Iowa is 10 years. Note: UCC § 554.2725 sales contracts are 5 years.. 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://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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/ia.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Iowa — 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) | 2 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) | Single-publication rule applies. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 2 years (6-year repose) | Iowa Code § 614.1(9) | discovery rule; repose 6y; Foreign-object exception preserves discovery accrual. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 2 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) | discovery rule; Standard tolling for minors and incompetents under § 614.8. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 2 years (15-year repose) | Iowa Code § 614.1(2A) | discovery rule; repose 15y; Exception for express warranties of longer duration. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 2 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 5 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(4) | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 5 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(4) | discovery rule; Fraudulent concealment further tolls accrual. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 5 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(4) | discovery rule; Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 10 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(5) | UCC § 554.2725 sales contracts are 5 years. | RECORDED |