--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Wisconsin license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Wisconsin Wisconsin'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 ### Wisconsin sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Wis. Stat. § 893.57) **RECORDED.** Under Wis. Stat. § 893.57, the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Wisconsin is 3 years. Note: Covers libel, slander, and other intentional torts to person.. 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/v/57?view=section 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Wisconsin sets a 3 years (or 1 from discovery) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Wis. Stat. § 893.55) **RECORDED.** Under Wis. Stat. § 893.55, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Wisconsin 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 5 year(s) may also bar the claim; Foreign-object exception removes 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/v/55 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. ### Wisconsin sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)) **RECORDED.** Under Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Wisconsin is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Auto-accident wrongful death is 2 years.. 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/v/54 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. ### Wisconsin sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)) **RECORDED.** Under Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Wisconsin is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 15 year(s) may also bar the claim; Repose does not apply where manufacturer concealed defect.. 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/v/54 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. ### Wisconsin sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Wis. Stat. § 893.54(2m)) **RECORDED.** Under Wis. Stat. § 893.54(2m), the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Wisconsin is 3 years. Note: Two years for motor-vehicle wrongful-death cases.. 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/v/54 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. ### Wisconsin sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Wis. Stat. § 893.43) **RECORDED.** Under Wis. Stat. § 893.43, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Wisconsin is 6 years. Note: Same period for express and implied 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/iv/43 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. ### Wisconsin sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Wis. Stat. § 893.43) **RECORDED.** Under Wis. Stat. § 893.43, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Wisconsin is 6 years. Note: Six years for any contract, express or implied.. 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/iv/43 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. ### Wisconsin sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Wis. Stat. § 893.93(1m)(b)) **RECORDED.** Under Wis. Stat. § 893.93(1m)(b), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Wisconsin 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/ix/93 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. ### Wisconsin sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Wis. Stat. § 893.52) **RECORDED.** Under Wis. Stat. § 893.52, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Wisconsin is 6 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Six-year period for injury to 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/iv/52 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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/wi.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Wisconsin — 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) | 3 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.57 | Covers libel, slander, and other intentional torts to person. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 3 years (or 1 from discovery) | Wis. Stat. § 893.55 | discovery rule; repose 5y; Foreign-object exception removes repose. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m) | discovery rule; Auto-accident wrongful death is 2 years. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 3 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m) | discovery rule; repose 15y; Repose does not apply where manufacturer concealed defect. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(2m) | Two years for motor-vehicle wrongful-death cases. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 6 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.43 | Same period for express and implied contracts. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 6 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.43 | Six years for any contract, express or implied. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 6 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.93(1m)(b) | discovery rule; Discovery rule built into the statute. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 6 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.52 | discovery rule; Six-year period for injury to property. | RECORDED |