--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Illinois license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Illinois Illinois'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 ### Illinois sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (735 ILCS 5/13-201) **RECORDED.** Under 735 ILCS 5/13-201, the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Illinois is 1 year. 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://codes.findlaw.com/il/chapter-735-civil-procedure/il-st-sect-735-5-13-201/ 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Illinois sets a 2 years (4-year repose) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (735 ILCS 5/13-212) **RECORDED.** Under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Illinois is 2 years (4-year repose). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 4 year(s) may also bar the claim; Foreign-object exception; minors up to 8 years/age 22.. 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) — http://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/073500050K13-212.htm 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. ### Illinois sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (735 ILCS 5/13-202) **RECORDED.** Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Illinois is 2 years. Note: Standard tolling for minors and incompetents under 5/13-211.. 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.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K13-202 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. ### Illinois sets a 2 years (10/12-year repose) civil statute of limitations for product liability (735 ILCS 5/13-213) **RECORDED.** Under 735 ILCS 5/13-213, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Illinois is 2 years (10/12-year repose). Note: an outer statute of repose of 10 year(s) may also bar the claim; Discovery within repose period gets 2 more years to file.. 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.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/073500050K13-213.htm 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. ### Illinois sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (740 ILCS 180/2) **RECORDED.** Under 740 ILCS 180/2, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Illinois is 2 years. Note: One year after disposition of related criminal case in some cases.. 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.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=074001800K2 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. ### Illinois sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (735 ILCS 5/13-205) **RECORDED.** Under 735 ILCS 5/13-205, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Illinois 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.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/073500050k13-205.htm 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. ### Illinois sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (735 ILCS 5/13-205) **RECORDED.** Under 735 ILCS 5/13-205, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Illinois is 5 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Fraudulent concealment gives 5 more years from discovery.. 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.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/073500050k13-205.htm 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. ### Illinois sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (735 ILCS 5/13-205) **RECORDED.** Under 735 ILCS 5/13-205, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Illinois 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.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/073500050k13-205.htm 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. ### Illinois sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (735 ILCS 5/13-206) **RECORDED.** Under 735 ILCS 5/13-206, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Illinois is 10 years. Note: Sale-of-goods contracts under UCC § 2-725 are 4 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.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/073500050K13-206.htm 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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/il.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Illinois — 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 | 735 ILCS 5/13-201 | Single-publication rule applies. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 2 years (4-year repose) | 735 ILCS 5/13-212 | discovery rule; repose 4y; Foreign-object exception; minors up to 8 years/age 22. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 2 years | 735 ILCS 5/13-202 | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents under 5/13-211. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 2 years (10/12-year repose) | 735 ILCS 5/13-213 | repose 10y; Discovery within repose period gets 2 more years to file. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 2 years | 740 ILCS 180/2 | One year after disposition of related criminal case in some cases. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 5 years | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 5 years | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 | discovery rule; Fraudulent concealment gives 5 more years from discovery. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 5 years | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 10 years | 735 ILCS 5/13-206 | Sale-of-goods contracts under UCC § 2-725 are 4 years. | RECORDED |