--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Tennessee license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Tennessee Tennessee'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 ### Tennessee sets a 6 months (slander) / 1 year (libel) civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-103 (slander); § 28-3-104 (libel)) **RECORDED.** Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-103 (slander); § 28-3-104 (libel), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Tennessee is 6 months (slander) / 1 year (libel). Note: Slander 6 months; libel 1 year.. 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.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/codes.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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Tennessee sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-116) **RECORDED.** Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-116, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Tennessee is 1 year. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 3 year(s) may also bar the claim; Foreign-object exception: 1 year from discovery.. 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.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/codes.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. ### Tennessee sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1)) **RECORDED.** Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Tennessee is 1 year. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Two years if defendant is criminally charged for same act under § 28-3-104(a)(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://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/codes.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. ### Tennessee sets a 1 year (injury) / 4 years (property) civil statute of limitations for product liability (Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-28-103) **RECORDED.** Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-28-103, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Tennessee is 1 year (injury) / 4 years (property). 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; Asbestos and silicone-implant cases have separate rules.. 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.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/codes.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. ### Tennessee sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104) **RECORDED.** Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Tennessee is 1 year. Note: Same one-year period as personal injury.. 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.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/codes.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. ### Tennessee sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105) **RECORDED.** Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Tennessee is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Treated as injury to property rights for limitations purposes.. 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.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/codes.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. ### Tennessee sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105) **RECORDED.** Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Tennessee is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Covers injuries 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://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/codes.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. ### Tennessee sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3)) **RECORDED.** Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Tennessee is 6 years. Note: Same 6-year period for written and oral contracts not otherwise specified.. 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.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/codes.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. ### Tennessee sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3)) **RECORDED.** Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Tennessee is 6 years. Note: Catch-all 6-year period for contracts not otherwise specified.. 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.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/codes.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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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/tn.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Tennessee — 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) | 6 months (slander) / 1 year (libel) | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-103 (slander); § 28-3-104 (libel) | Slander 6 months; libel 1 year. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 1 year | Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-116 | discovery rule; repose 3y; Foreign-object exception: 1 year from discovery. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 1 year | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1) | discovery rule; Two years if defendant is criminally charged for same act under § 28-3-104(a)(2). | RECORDED | | Product liability | 1 year (injury) / 4 years (property) | Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-28-103 | discovery rule; repose 10y; Asbestos and silicone-implant cases have separate rules. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 1 year | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104 | Same one-year period as personal injury. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 3 years | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105 | discovery rule; Treated as injury to property rights for limitations purposes. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 3 years | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105 | discovery rule; Covers injuries to real or personal property. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 6 years | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3) | Same 6-year period for written and oral contracts not otherwise specified. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 6 years | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3) | Catch-all 6-year period for contracts not otherwise specified. | RECORDED |