--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Texas license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Texas Texas'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 ### Texas sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.002(a)) **RECORDED.** Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.002(a), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Texas is 1 year. Note: Covers libel, slander, and malicious prosecution.. 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Texas sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.251) **RECORDED.** Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.251, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Texas is 2 years. Note: an outer statute of repose of 10 year(s) may also bar the claim; Foreign-object exception; minors under 12 have until 14th birthday.. 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.74.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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Texas sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a)) **RECORDED.** Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Texas is 2 years. Note: Service of process must also occur within limitations or with diligent service.. 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.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. ### Texas sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003) **RECORDED.** Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Texas is 2 years. Note: an outer statute of repose of 15 year(s) may also bar the claim; Disease-exposure and warranted-life-extension exceptions exist.. 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.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. ### Texas sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a)) **RECORDED.** Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Texas is 2 years. Note: Covers trespass and conversion of 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.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. ### Texas sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b)) **RECORDED.** Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b), the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Texas is 2 years. Note: Substantive right under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.021.. 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.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. ### Texas sets a 4 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051) **RECORDED.** Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Texas is 4 years. Note: Residual 4-year limitations period applies to 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.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. ### Texas sets a 4 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051) **RECORDED.** Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Texas is 4 years. Note: Section 16.004 covers contracts for conveyance of real 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.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. ### Texas sets a 4 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004(a)(4)) **RECORDED.** Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004(a)(4), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Texas is 4 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Same period for breach of fiduciary duty.. 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.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 Texas 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 Texas 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/tx.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Texas — 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 | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.002(a) | Covers libel, slander, and malicious prosecution. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 2 years | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.251 | repose 10y; Foreign-object exception; minors under 12 have until 14th birthday. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 2 years | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a) | Service of process must also occur within limitations or with diligent service. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 2 years | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 | repose 15y; Disease-exposure and warranted-life-extension exceptions exist. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 2 years | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a) | Covers trespass and conversion of personal property. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 2 years | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b) | Substantive right under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.021. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 4 years | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051 | Residual 4-year limitations period applies to oral contracts. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 4 years | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051 | Section 16.004 covers contracts for conveyance of real property. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 4 years | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004(a)(4) | discovery rule; Same period for breach of fiduciary duty. | RECORDED |