--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Maryland license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Maryland Maryland'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 ### Maryland sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-105) **RECORDED.** Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-105, the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Maryland is 1 year. Note: Same 1-year limit applies to assault.. 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://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-105 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Maryland sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) **RECORDED.** Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Maryland is 3 years. Note: UCC sales of goods governed by 4-year limit under § 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://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-101 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Maryland sets a 3 years (12 years if under seal) civil statute of limitations for contract written (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101; § 5-102) **RECORDED.** Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101; § 5-102, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Maryland is 3 years (12 years if under seal). Note: Specialties (instruments under seal, bonds, judgments, contracts under seal) have 12-year limit under § 5-102.. 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://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-102 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. ### Maryland sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101; § 5-203) **RECORDED.** Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101; § 5-203, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Maryland is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Fraudulent concealment tolls accrual under § 5-203.. 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://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-203 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. ### Maryland sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) **RECORDED.** Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Maryland is 3 years. Note: Tolling for minors and incapacitated persons under § 5-201.. 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://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-101 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. ### Maryland sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) **RECORDED.** Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Maryland is 3 years. Note: Realty-improvement repose: 10 years (architect/engineer/contractor) and 20 years (general).. 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://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-101 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. ### Maryland sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) **RECORDED.** Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Maryland is 3 years. Note: Standard tolling for minors 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://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-101 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. ### Maryland sets a 3 years from death civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-904) **RECORDED.** Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-904, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Maryland is 3 years from death. Note: Occupational-disease deaths must be filed within 10 years of death or 3 years of discovery, whichever is shorter.. 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://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=3-904 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. ### Maryland sets a 5 years from injury or 3 years from discovery civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-109) **RECORDED.** Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-109, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Maryland is 5 years from injury or 3 years from discovery. 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 and reproductive-injury exceptions; minors' 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://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-109 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 Maryland 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 Maryland 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/md.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Maryland — 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 | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-105 | Same 1-year limit applies to assault. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 3 years | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | UCC sales of goods governed by 4-year limit under § 2-725. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 3 years (12 years if under seal) | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101; § 5-102 | Specialties (instruments under seal, bonds, judgments, contracts under seal) have 12-year limit under § 5-102. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 3 years | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101; § 5-203 | discovery rule; Fraudulent concealment tolls accrual under § 5-203. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | Tolling for minors and incapacitated persons under § 5-201. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | Realty-improvement repose: 10 years (architect/engineer/contractor) and 20 years (general). | RECORDED | | Property damage | 3 years | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | Standard tolling for minors and incapacity. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years from death | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-904 | Occupational-disease deaths must be filed within 10 years of death or 3 years of discovery, whichever is shorter. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 5 years from injury or 3 years from discovery | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-109 | discovery rule; repose 5y; Foreign-object and reproductive-injury exceptions; minors' tolling. | RECORDED |