--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Missouri license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Missouri Missouri'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 ### Missouri sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.140) **RECORDED.** Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.140, the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Missouri is 2 years. Note: Same 2-year limit applies to libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution.. 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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.140 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Missouri sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.105) **RECORDED.** Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.105, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Missouri is 2 years. Note: an outer statute of repose of 10 year(s) may also bar the claim; Reduced from 5 to 2 years by HB 68, eff. Aug. 28, 2025. Minors: until 2 years past 18th birthday.. 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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.105 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. ### Missouri sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.100) **RECORDED.** Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.100, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Missouri is 3 years. Note: WD 3-year SOL trumps med-mal 2-year SOL.. 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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=537.100 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. ### Missouri sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120) **RECORDED.** Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Missouri is 5 years. Note: Mixed oral/written contracts governed by 5-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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.120 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. ### Missouri sets a 5 years (from discovery; max 10) civil statute of limitations for fraud (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(5)) **RECORDED.** Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(5), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Missouri is 5 years (from discovery; max 10). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 10 year(s) may also bar the claim; Maximum 15 years from fraud's commission to file suit.. 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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.120 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. ### Missouri sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120) **RECORDED.** Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Missouri is 5 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Intentional torts (libel, slander, assault, battery) governed by 2-year § 516.140.. 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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.120 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. ### Missouri sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120) **RECORDED.** Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Missouri is 5 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); No useful-life or other repose for products generally.. 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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.120 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. ### Missouri sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120) **RECORDED.** Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Missouri is 5 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Tolling for minors/incapacity under § 516.170.. 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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.120 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. ### Missouri sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.110) **RECORDED.** Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.110, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Missouri is 10 years. Note: Applies to writings for payment of money or property; UCC sales of goods: 4 years under § 400.2-725.. 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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.110 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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/mo.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Missouri — 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 | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.140 | Same 2-year limit applies to libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 2 years | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.105 | repose 10y; Reduced from 5 to 2 years by HB 68, eff. Aug. 28, 2025. Minors: until 2 years past 18th birthday. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.100 | WD 3-year SOL trumps med-mal 2-year SOL. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 5 years | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120 | Mixed oral/written contracts governed by 5-year limit. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 5 years (from discovery; max 10) | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(5) | discovery rule; repose 10y; Maximum 15 years from fraud's commission to file suit. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 5 years | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120 | discovery rule; Intentional torts (libel, slander, assault, battery) governed by 2-year § 516.140. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 5 years | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120 | discovery rule; No useful-life or other repose for products generally. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 5 years | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120 | discovery rule; Tolling for minors/incapacity under § 516.170. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 10 years | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.110 | Applies to writings for payment of money or property; UCC sales of goods: 4 years under § 400.2-725. | RECORDED |