--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Kentucky license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Kentucky Kentucky'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 ### Kentucky sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(d)) **RECORDED.** Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(d), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Kentucky 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://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=49037 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Kentucky sets a 1 year (5-year repose) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(e)) **RECORDED.** Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(e), the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Kentucky is 1 year (5-year repose). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 5 year(s) may also bar the claim; Foreign-object/fraudulent-concealment exceptions.. 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://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=49037 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. ### Kentucky sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a)) **RECORDED.** Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Kentucky is 1 year. Note: Motor Vehicle Reparations Act extends to 2 years for auto accidents.. 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://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=49037 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. ### Kentucky sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for product liability (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a)) **RECORDED.** Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Kentucky is 1 year. Note: § 411.310 creates rebuttable presumption product not defective if injury more than 5 years after first sale or 8 years after manufacture.. 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://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=49037 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. ### Kentucky sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.180) **RECORDED.** Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.180, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Kentucky is 1 year. Note: If no PR appointed within 1 year of death, period begins automatically.. 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://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/chapter.aspx?id=39261 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. ### Kentucky sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.125) **RECORDED.** Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.125, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Kentucky is 2 years. Note: Real-property trespass/damage is 5 years under § 413.120.. 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://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/chapter.aspx?id=39261 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. ### Kentucky sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.120(1)) **RECORDED.** Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.120(1), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Kentucky 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://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=44670 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. ### Kentucky sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.120(11)) **RECORDED.** Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.120(11), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Kentucky is 5 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); No more than 10 years from accrual under § 413.130(3).. 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://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=44670 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. ### Kentucky sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.160) **RECORDED.** Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.160, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Kentucky is 10 years. Note: Older contracts under § 413.090 retain 15-year period.. 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://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=43544 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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/ky.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Kentucky — 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 | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(d) | Single-publication rule applies. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 1 year (5-year repose) | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(e) | discovery rule; repose 5y; Foreign-object/fraudulent-concealment exceptions. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 1 year | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a) | Motor Vehicle Reparations Act extends to 2 years for auto accidents. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 1 year | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a) | § 411.310 creates rebuttable presumption product not defective if injury more than 5 years after first sale or 8 years after manufacture. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 1 year | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.180 | If no PR appointed within 1 year of death, period begins automatically. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 2 years | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.125 | Real-property trespass/damage is 5 years under § 413.120. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 5 years | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.120(1) | Standard tolling for minors and incompetents. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 5 years | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.120(11) | discovery rule; No more than 10 years from accrual under § 413.130(3). | RECORDED | | Contract written | 10 years | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.160 | Older contracts under § 413.090 retain 15-year period. | RECORDED |