--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Vermont license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Vermont Vermont'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 ### Vermont sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (14 V.S.A. § 1492(a)) **RECORDED.** Under 14 V.S.A. § 1492(a), the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Vermont is 2 years. Note: Personal representative brings the action.. 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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/14/071/01492 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Vermont sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (12 V.S.A. § 512(3)) **RECORDED.** Under 12 V.S.A. § 512(3), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Vermont is 3 years. Note: Covers slander and libel.. 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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00512 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Vermont sets a 3 years (or 2 from discovery) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (12 V.S.A. § 521) **RECORDED.** Under 12 V.S.A. § 521, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Vermont is 3 years (or 2 from discovery). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 7 year(s) may also bar the claim; Fraudulent concealment removes the bar.. 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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00521 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. ### Vermont sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (12 V.S.A. § 512(4)) **RECORDED.** Under 12 V.S.A. § 512(4), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Vermont is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Statute incorporates discovery rule by its terms.. 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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00512 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. ### Vermont sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (12 V.S.A. § 512(4)) **RECORDED.** Under 12 V.S.A. § 512(4), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Vermont is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Vermont has no general products statute of repose.. 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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00512 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. ### Vermont sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (12 V.S.A. § 512(5)) **RECORDED.** Under 12 V.S.A. § 512(5), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Vermont is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Same 3-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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00512 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. ### Vermont sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (12 V.S.A. § 511) **RECORDED.** Under 12 V.S.A. § 511, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Vermont is 6 years. Note: Same 6-year residual period applies.. 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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00511 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. ### Vermont sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (12 V.S.A. § 511) **RECORDED.** Under 12 V.S.A. § 511, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Vermont is 6 years. Note: General catch-all 6-year period for civil actions.. 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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00511 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. ### Vermont sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (12 V.S.A. § 511) **RECORDED.** Under 12 V.S.A. § 511, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Vermont is 6 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Treated under residual 6-year limitations.. 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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00511 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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/vt.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Vermont — 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Wrongful death | 2 years | 14 V.S.A. § 1492(a) | Personal representative brings the action. | RECORDED | | Defamation (libel / slander) | 3 years | 12 V.S.A. § 512(3) | Covers slander and libel. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 3 years (or 2 from discovery) | 12 V.S.A. § 521 | discovery rule; repose 7y; Fraudulent concealment removes the bar. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | 12 V.S.A. § 512(4) | discovery rule; Statute incorporates discovery rule by its terms. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | 12 V.S.A. § 512(4) | discovery rule; Vermont has no general products statute of repose. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 3 years | 12 V.S.A. § 512(5) | discovery rule; Same 3-year period as personal injury. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 6 years | 12 V.S.A. § 511 | Same 6-year residual period applies. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 6 years | 12 V.S.A. § 511 | General catch-all 6-year period for civil actions. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 6 years | 12 V.S.A. § 511 | discovery rule; Treated under residual 6-year limitations. | RECORDED |