--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Washington license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Washington Washington'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 ### Washington sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.100(1)) **RECORDED.** Under Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.100(1), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Washington is 2 years. Note: Covers 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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.100 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Washington sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(3)) **RECORDED.** Under Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(3), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Washington is 3 years. Note: Applies to contracts not in writing.. 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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Washington sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(4)) **RECORDED.** Under Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(4), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Washington is 3 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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080 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. ### Washington sets a 3 years (or 1 from discovery) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.350) **RECORDED.** Under Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.350, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Washington is 3 years (or 1 from discovery). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 8 year(s) may also bar the claim; Tolled by good-faith mediation request and for fraud/concealment.. 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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.350 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. ### Washington sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2)) **RECORDED.** Under Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Washington is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Tolling for minors under RCW 4.16.190.. 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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080 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. ### Washington sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.060(3)) **RECORDED.** Under Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.060(3), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Washington is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 12 year(s) may also bar the claim; Presumption is rebuttable; not a strict 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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=7.72.060 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. ### Washington sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(1)-(2)) **RECORDED.** Under Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(1)-(2), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Washington is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Covers waste or trespass to real property and injury to 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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080 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. ### Washington sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2)) **RECORDED.** Under Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2), the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Washington is 3 years. Note: Right of action under RCW 4.20.010.. 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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080 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. ### Washington sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.040(1)) **RECORDED.** Under Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.040(1), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Washington is 6 years. Note: Applies to contracts in writing or arising out of a writing.. 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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.040 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 Washington 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 Washington 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/wa.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Washington — 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 | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.100(1) | Covers libel and slander. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 3 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(3) | Applies to contracts not in writing. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 3 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(4) | discovery rule; Discovery rule built into the statute. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 3 years (or 1 from discovery) | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.350 | discovery rule; repose 8y; Tolled by good-faith mediation request and for fraud/concealment. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2) | discovery rule; Tolling for minors under RCW 4.16.190. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.060(3) | discovery rule; repose 12y; Presumption is rebuttable; not a strict repose. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 3 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(1)-(2) | discovery rule; Covers waste or trespass to real property and injury to chattels. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2) | Right of action under RCW 4.20.010. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 6 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.040(1) | Applies to contracts in writing or arising out of a writing. | RECORDED |