Before you file a civil lawsuit, you need to know whether the statute of limitations has passed. The civil statute of limitations is a set of time limits correlating to different civil procedures, requiring plaintiffs to file claims within these limits. The "clock" begins tolling at the point the incident occurs, with some exceptions. Under the "discovery rule," for instance, the statute of limitations doesn't begin tolling until the injured party discovers (or reasonably should have discovered) the injury.
This rule is to account for people who had no way of knowing they were injured until much later, such as in the case of environmental toxins or asbestos poisoning. Criminal courts also impose a statute of limitations, requiring prosecutors to file criminal charges within a certain time limit for most (but not all) crimes.
Alaska Civil Statute of Limitations at a Glance
The statutes of limitations for civil cases and procedures in Alaska range from two to 10 years. Personal injury and defamation claims carry a two-year time limit, while fraud, collection of rents and debt, and judgments all have a 10-year limit.
The following chart lists additional time limits for various civil actions in Alaska. See FindLaw's Injury Law Basics section for more information.
| Injury to Person | 2 yrs. §09.10.070 |
| Libel/Slander | 2 yrs. §09.10.070 |
| Fraud | 10 yrs. §09.10.100 |
| Injury to Personal Property | 6 yrs. §09.10.050 |
| Professional Malpractice | Medical not under contract: 2 yrs. §09.10.070; under contract: 6 yrs. §09.10.050 |
| Trespass | 6 yrs. §09.10.05 |
| Collection of Rents | 10 yrs. §09.10.100 |
| Contracts | 3 yrs. §09.10.053 |
| Collection of Debt on Account | 10 yrs. §09.10.100 |
| Judgments | 10 yrs. §09.10.040 |
Note: State laws may change at any time through the enactment of newly signed legislation, precedent-setting higher court decisions, and other means. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of these pages, you also may want to contact an Alaska personal injury attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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Alaska Civil Statute of Limitations: Related Resources
Learn More About Alaska Civil Statute of Limitations Laws from a Lawyer
Whether Alaska's civil statute of limitations apply to your case will depend on the facts and causes of action you choose to file. An experienced attorney can help you to find the right cause of action and can ensure that your case is filed in a timely fashion. If you're dealing with a personal or economic injury in Alaska, it's a good idea to get in touch with a local litigation attorney for guidance on how to proceed.
