--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Montana license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Montana Montana'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 ### Montana sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(3)) **RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(3), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Montana is 2 years. Note: Same 2-year limit applies to assault, battery, false imprisonment, seduction.. 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://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0040/0270-0020-0020-0040.html 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Montana sets a 2 years (from discovery) civil statute of limitations for fraud (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-203) **RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-203, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Montana is 2 years (from discovery). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Fraudulent-concealment tolling under § 27-2-102.. 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://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0030/0270-0020-0020-0030.html 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. ### Montana sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-207) **RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-207, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Montana is 2 years. Note: Two-year limit applies to trespass and damage to real or personal property.. 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://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0070/0270-0020-0020-0070.html 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. ### Montana sets a 3 years (within 5 from injury) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-205) **RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-205, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Montana is 3 years (within 5 from injury). 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; Concealment exception eliminates 5-year cap; minors under 4 get clock to age 8.. 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://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0050/0270-0020-0020-0050.html 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. ### Montana sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204) **RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Montana is 3 years. Note: Libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, seduction: 2 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://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0040/0270-0020-0020-0040.html 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. ### Montana sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204) **RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Montana is 3 years. Note: Realty-improvement repose under § 27-2-208 (10 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://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0040/0270-0020-0020-0040.html 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. ### Montana sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(2)) **RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(2), the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Montana is 3 years. Note: Homicide-related WD: 10 years under § 27-2-204(2).. 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://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0040/0270-0020-0020-0040.html 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. ### Montana sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2)) **RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Montana is 5 years. Note: Other non-contract obligations not in writing: 3 years under § 27-2-202(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://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0020/0270-0020-0020-0020.html 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. ### Montana sets a 8 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1)) **RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Montana is 8 years. Note: UCC sales of goods: 4 years under § 30-2-725.. 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://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0020/0270-0020-0020-0020.html 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 Montana 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 Montana 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/mt.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Montana — 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 | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(3) | Same 2-year limit applies to assault, battery, false imprisonment, seduction. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 2 years (from discovery) | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-203 | discovery rule; Fraudulent-concealment tolling under § 27-2-102. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 2 years | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-207 | Two-year limit applies to trespass and damage to real or personal property. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 3 years (within 5 from injury) | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-205 | discovery rule; repose 5y; Concealment exception eliminates 5-year cap; minors under 4 get clock to age 8. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204 | Libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, seduction: 2 years. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204 | Realty-improvement repose under § 27-2-208 (10 years). | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(2) | Homicide-related WD: 10 years under § 27-2-204(2). | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 5 years | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2) | Other non-contract obligations not in writing: 3 years under § 27-2-202(3). | RECORDED | | Contract written | 8 years | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1) | UCC sales of goods: 4 years under § 30-2-725. | RECORDED |