--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for West Virginia license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for West Virginia West Virginia'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 ### West Virginia sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(c)) **RECORDED.** Under W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(c), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in West Virginia is 1 year. Note: One-year period for personal actions surviving against representative.. 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://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-2-12/ 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### West Virginia sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (W. Va. Code § 55-2-12) **RECORDED.** Under W. Va. Code § 55-2-12, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in West Virginia is 2 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Treated as personal action subject to 2-year period.. 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://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-2-12/ 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A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### West Virginia sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (W. Va. Code § 55-7B-4) **RECORDED.** Under W. Va. Code § 55-7B-4, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in West Virginia is 2 years. 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; Nursing-home claims have 1-year period from injury or 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://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-7B-4/ 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. ### West Virginia sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b)) **RECORDED.** Under W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in West Virginia is 2 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Tolling for minors and incapacity under § 55-2-15.. 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://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-2-12/ 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. ### West Virginia sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b)) **RECORDED.** Under W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in West Virginia is 2 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); 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://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-2-12/ 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. ### West Virginia sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(a)) **RECORDED.** Under W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(a), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in West Virginia is 2 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Action for damage 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://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-2-12/ 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. ### West Virginia sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (W. Va. Code § 55-7-6) **RECORDED.** Under W. Va. Code § 55-7-6, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in West Virginia is 2 years. Note: Discovery-rule application limited.. 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://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-7-6/ 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. ### West Virginia sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (W. Va. Code § 55-2-6) **RECORDED.** Under W. Va. Code § 55-2-6, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in West Virginia is 5 years. Note: Express or implied 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://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-2-6/ 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. ### West Virginia sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (W. Va. Code § 55-2-6) **RECORDED.** Under W. Va. Code § 55-2-6, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in West Virginia is 10 years. Note: Signed written contract not under seal.. 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://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-2-6/ 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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/wv.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in West Virginia — 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 | W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(c) | One-year period for personal actions surviving against representative. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 2 years | W. Va. Code § 55-2-12 | discovery rule; Treated as personal action subject to 2-year period. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 2 years | W. Va. Code § 55-7B-4 | discovery rule; repose 10y; Nursing-home claims have 1-year period from injury or discovery. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 2 years | W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b) | discovery rule; Tolling for minors and incapacity under § 55-2-15. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 2 years | W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b) | discovery rule; No general products statute of repose. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 2 years | W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(a) | discovery rule; Action for damage to property. | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 2 years | W. Va. Code § 55-7-6 | Discovery-rule application limited. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 5 years | W. Va. Code § 55-2-6 | Express or implied contracts not in writing. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 10 years | W. Va. Code § 55-2-6 | Signed written contract not under seal. | RECORDED |