--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for South Carolina license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for South Carolina South Carolina'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 ### South Carolina sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-550(1)) **RECORDED.** Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-550(1), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in South Carolina is 2 years. Note: Covers libel, slander, and false imprisonment.. 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.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### South Carolina sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1)) **RECORDED.** Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in South Carolina is 3 years. Note: Same 3-year period applies to express and implied 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.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### South Carolina sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1)) **RECORDED.** Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in South Carolina is 3 years. Note: Sealed instruments have 20-year period under § 15-3-520.. 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.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php 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. ### South Carolina sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(7)) **RECORDED.** Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(7), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in South Carolina is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Discovery rule expressly built into the statute.. 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.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php 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. ### South Carolina sets a 3 years (max 6 from occurrence) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-545) **RECORDED.** Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-545, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in South Carolina is 3 years (max 6 from occurrence). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 6 year(s) may also bar the claim; Foreign-object cases: 2 years from discovery, minimum 3 years from placement.. 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.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php 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. ### South Carolina sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5)) **RECORDED.** Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in South Carolina is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Tolling for minors and incapacity under § 15-3-40.. 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.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php 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. ### South Carolina sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5)) **RECORDED.** Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in South Carolina is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Real-property improvements have 8-year repose under § 15-3-640.. 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.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php 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. ### South Carolina sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(4)) **RECORDED.** Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(4), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in South Carolina is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Covers taking, detaining, or injuring goods or 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.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php 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. ### South Carolina sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(6)) **RECORDED.** Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(6), the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in South Carolina is 3 years. Note: Survival actions also generally 3 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://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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/sc.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in South Carolina — 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 | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-550(1) | Covers libel, slander, and false imprisonment. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 3 years | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1) | Same 3-year period applies to express and implied contracts. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 3 years | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1) | Sealed instruments have 20-year period under § 15-3-520. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 3 years | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(7) | discovery rule; Discovery rule expressly built into the statute. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 3 years (max 6 from occurrence) | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-545 | discovery rule; repose 6y; Foreign-object cases: 2 years from discovery, minimum 3 years from placement. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5) | discovery rule; Tolling for minors and incapacity under § 15-3-40. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5) | discovery rule; Real-property improvements have 8-year repose under § 15-3-640. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 3 years | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(4) | discovery rule; Covers taking, detaining, or injuring goods or chattels. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(6) | Survival actions also generally 3 years. | RECORDED |