--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for South Dakota license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for South Dakota South Dakota'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 Dakota sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-15(3)) **RECORDED.** Under S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-15(3), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in South Dakota is 2 years. Note: Same period for libel and slander.. 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://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/15-2-15 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.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 Dakota sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1) **RECORDED.** Under S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in South Dakota is 2 years. Note: Foreign-object exception applies; minors have additional time.. 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://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/15-2-14.1 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.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 Dakota sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14(3)) **RECORDED.** Under S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14(3), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in South Dakota is 3 years. Note: Special 1-year period for tort claims against State; 2 years for municipalities.. 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://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/15-2-14 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 Dakota sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-12.2) **RECORDED.** Under S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-12.2, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in South Dakota is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Applies to manufacturers, sellers, and lessors.. 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://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/15-2-12.2 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 Dakota sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (S.D. Codified Laws § 21-5-3) **RECORDED.** Under S.D. Codified Laws § 21-5-3, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in South Dakota is 3 years. Note: No discovery rule for wrongful-death claims.. 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://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/21-5-3 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 Dakota sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1)) **RECORDED.** Under S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in South Dakota is 6 years. Note: Statute covers express or implied contracts and liabilities.. 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://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/15-2-13 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 Dakota sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1)) **RECORDED.** Under S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in South Dakota is 6 years. Note: Same 6-year period for written and oral 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://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/15-2-13 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 Dakota sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(6)) **RECORDED.** Under S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(6), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in South Dakota is 6 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Discovery rule 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://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/15-2-13 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 Dakota sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(2)) **RECORDED.** Under S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(2), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in South Dakota is 6 years. Note: Action for taking/detaining/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://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/15-2-13 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 Dakota 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 Dakota 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/sd.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in South Dakota — 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.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-15(3) | Same period for libel and slander. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 2 years | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1 | Foreign-object exception applies; minors have additional time. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14(3) | Special 1-year period for tort claims against State; 2 years for municipalities. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-12.2 | discovery rule; Applies to manufacturers, sellers, and lessors. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years | S.D. Codified Laws § 21-5-3 | No discovery rule for wrongful-death claims. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 6 years | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1) | Statute covers express or implied contracts and liabilities. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 6 years | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1) | Same 6-year period for written and oral contracts. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 6 years | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(6) | discovery rule; Discovery rule built into the statute. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 6 years | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(2) | Action for taking/detaining/injuring goods or chattels. | RECORDED |