--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Pennsylvania license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Pennsylvania Pennsylvania'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 ### Pennsylvania sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5523(1)) **RECORDED.** Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5523(1), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Pennsylvania is 1 year. Note: Covers libel/slander/invasion of privacy.. 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://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.023.000..HTM 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Pennsylvania sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(7)) **RECORDED.** Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(7), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Pennsylvania is 2 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Subsection (7) covers tortious conduct including deceit or fraud.. 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://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.024.000..HTM 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. ### Pennsylvania sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2)) **RECORDED.** Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2), the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Pennsylvania is 2 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Minors have until age 20; foreign-object exception under MCARE.. 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://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.024.000..HTM 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. ### Pennsylvania sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524) **RECORDED.** Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Pennsylvania is 2 years. Note: Asbestos exposure has specific accrual under § 5524(7).. 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://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.024.000..HTM 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. ### Pennsylvania sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2)) **RECORDED.** Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Pennsylvania is 2 years. Note: Strict-liability and negligence theories share 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://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.024.000..HTM 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. ### Pennsylvania sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(3)) **RECORDED.** Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(3), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Pennsylvania is 2 years. Note: Includes trespass to chattels.. 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://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.024.000..HTM 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. ### Pennsylvania sets a 2 years from death civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2)) **RECORDED.** Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2), the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Pennsylvania is 2 years from death. Note: Survival actions also subject to same 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://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.024.000..HTM 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. ### Pennsylvania sets a 4 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(a)(3)) **RECORDED.** Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(a)(3), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Pennsylvania is 4 years. Note: Same 4-year SOL applies to written and oral express contracts.. 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://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.025.000..HTM 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. ### Pennsylvania sets a 4 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(a)(8)) **RECORDED.** Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(a)(8), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Pennsylvania is 4 years. Note: Instruments under seal use 20-year SOL under § 5529(b).. 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://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.025.000..HTM 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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/pa.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Pennsylvania — 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 | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5523(1) | Covers libel/slander/invasion of privacy. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 2 years | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(7) | discovery rule; Subsection (7) covers tortious conduct including deceit or fraud. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 2 years | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2) | discovery rule; Minors have until age 20; foreign-object exception under MCARE. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 2 years | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524 | Asbestos exposure has specific accrual under § 5524(7). | RECORDED | | Product liability | 2 years | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2) | Strict-liability and negligence theories share 2-year SOL. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 2 years | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(3) | Includes trespass to chattels. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 2 years from death | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2) | Survival actions also subject to same 2-year SOL. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 4 years | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(a)(3) | Same 4-year SOL applies to written and oral express contracts. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 4 years | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(a)(8) | Instruments under seal use 20-year SOL under § 5529(b). | RECORDED |