The statutes of limitations are time limits imposed by state law for initiating a lawsuit or some other type of civil action. The time begins "tolling" at the point an injury or some other disputed event has occurred in most cases, but there are exceptions. For example, someone in Oklahoma who is exposed to asbestos may not know about it until many years later, when she is diagnosed with asbestosis. But under the "discovery rule," the clock doesn't toll until the point at which the injury is discovered. If a potential defendant leaves the state or is otherwise evasive, the statute of limitations is put on hold.
Time limits imposed by statutes of limitations are important for a couple of reasons. First, they prevent potential plaintiffs from threatening someone with a lawsuit indefinitely. Also, they ensure greater integrity of the evidence and a more efficient case.
Oklahoma Civil Statute of Limitations at a Glance
In most instances, Oklahoma plaintiffs have a two-year limit from the date of the incident in which to file a lawsuit. Exceptions include defamation (libel or slander) at one year, five years for rent and debt collection or written contracts, and three years for judgments and oral contracts.
The main provisions of Oklahoma's civil statute of limitations are listed in the table below. See FindLaw's Injury Law Basics section for more information about filing a lawsuit.
| Injury to Person | 2 yrs. Tit. 12 §95(4) |
| Defamation (Libel/Slander) | 1 yr. Tit. 12 §95(4) |
| Fraud | 2 yrs. Tit. 12 §95(3) |
| Injury to Personal Property | 2 yrs. Tit. 12 §95(3) |
| Professional Malpractice | 2 yrs. Tit. 12 §95(3) |
| Trespass | 2 yrs. Tit. 12 §95(3) |
| Collection of Rents | 5 yrs. Tit. 12 §95(11) |
| Contracts | Written: 5 yrs. Tit. 12§95(1); Oral: 3 yrs. Tit. 12 §95(2) |
| Collection of Debt on Account | 5 yrs. Tit. 12 §95(11) |
| Judgments | 3 yrs. foreign judgment Tit. 12 §95(2) |
Note: State laws are always subject to change, often through the passage of new legislation or through higher court decisions. You may also want to contact an Oklahoma personal injury attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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Oklahoma Civil Statute of Limitations: Related Resources
Learn More About Oklahoma Civil Statute of Limitations Laws from a Lawyer
The statute of limitations in Oklahoma civil cases can vary. Whether you are filing a premises liability case in Tulsa, or a product defect claim in Oklahoma City, time is of the essence when deciding whether to file your case. If you want to know if you have a valid legal claim and want to ensure that it's filed in a timely manner, you should contact a litigation attorney in Oklahoma today.
