--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Massachusetts license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Massachusetts Massachusetts'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 ### Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4) **RECORDED.** Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4, the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: Fraudulent-concealment tolling possible in rare 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://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section4 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A) **RECORDED.** Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Fraudulent concealment tolls under § 12.. 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://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A 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. ### Massachusetts sets a 3 years; max 7 years (repose) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4) **RECORDED.** Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Massachusetts is 3 years; max 7 years (repose). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 7 year(s) may also bar the claim; Foreign-object exception to the 7-year repose; tolling for minors under age 6.. 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://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section4 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. ### Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A) **RECORDED.** Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Tolling for minors under § 7 and incapacity.. 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://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A 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. ### Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A) **RECORDED.** Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Express-warranty claims governed by UCC 4-year limit (§ 2-318).. 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://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A 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. ### Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A) **RECORDED.** Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Standard tolling rules apply.. 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://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A 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. ### Massachusetts sets a 3 years from death or discovery civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229, § 2) **RECORDED.** Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229, § 2, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Massachusetts is 3 years from death or discovery. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Underlying claim must have been timely as of death (Fabiano rule).. 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://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter229/Section2 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. ### Massachusetts sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2) **RECORDED.** Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Massachusetts is 6 years. Note: UCC 4-year limit governs sales of goods.. 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://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2 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. ### Massachusetts sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2) **RECORDED.** Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Massachusetts is 6 years. Note: Sales of goods under UCC subject to 4-year limit.. 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://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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/ma.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Massachusetts — 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) | 3 years | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4 | Fraudulent-concealment tolling possible in rare cases. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 3 years | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A | discovery rule; Fraudulent concealment tolls under § 12. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 3 years; max 7 years (repose) | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4 | discovery rule; repose 7y; Foreign-object exception to the 7-year repose; tolling for minors under age 6. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A | discovery rule; Tolling for minors under § 7 and incapacity. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A | discovery rule; Express-warranty claims governed by UCC 4-year limit (§ 2-318). | RECORDED | | Property damage | 3 years | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A | discovery rule; Standard tolling rules apply. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years from death or discovery | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229, § 2 | discovery rule; Underlying claim must have been timely as of death (Fabiano rule). | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 6 years | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2 | UCC 4-year limit governs sales of goods. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 6 years | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2 | Sales of goods under UCC subject to 4-year limit. | RECORDED |