United States Child Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations

In the United States, each state has its own statute of limitations for child sex abuse claims. Below is an overview of each state's applicable statute of limitation law. Read on to learn more about child sex abuse statute of limitations in the U.S. Overview of U.S. Child Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations
U.S. State Applicable Statute
Alabama In Alabama,  sex abuse claims must be brought within 2 years of the date of the injury under Alabama Code § 6-2-38.
Alaska Alaska Stat. § 12.10.010 There is no statute of limitation in Alaska for felony sexual abuse. The plaintiff can file a lawsuit at any time.
Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-107 The victim can file a lawsuit at any time.
Arkansas Ark. Code § 5-1-109 In Arkansas, a child sex abuse claim must be filed within 3 years of the discovery of childhood sexual abuse or before the victim turns 28-years-old.
California Cal. Penal Code §§ 799, 800, 801, 803 Ca. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.1 A plaintiff can file a civil action after his/her 28th birthday if the person or entity in which whom the action is against knew, had reason to know, or was otherwise put on notice of any unlawful sexual conduct and failed to take reasonable steps to avoid future acts of unlawful sexual conduct.
Colorado Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-80-103.7 Victims must file a civil lawsuit within 6 years of reaching the age of majority.
Connecticut Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577d A victim can file a lawsuit within 30 years after reaching the age of majority.
Delaware Del. Code tit. 10, § 8145 Child sex abuse claims must be filed within 2 years from the date of the injury.
District of Columbia D.C. Code § 12-301 Child sex abuse victims must file claims within three years “from the time the right to maintain the action accrues.” A victim can also file a lawsuit within 3 years of reaching the age of majority.
Florida Fla. Stat. § 95.11(7) Child sex abuse claims including inceset can be filed within 7 years after the victim reaches the age of majority, or within 4 years after leaving the dependency of the abuser.
Georgia Ga. Code § 9-3-33.1 A victim has up to 15 years from the date of the crime to seek criminal charges against the perpetrator.  Any civil action of childhood sexual abuse committed on or after July 1, 2015, shall  be commenced on or before the date the plaintiff attains the age of 53
Hawaii Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 657-7 A victim has two years to file a claim from the date of the injury occurring.
Idaho Idaho Code § 6-1704 A victim can file a lawsuit within 5 years of reaching the age of majority.
Illinois Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 735, § 13–202.2(b) A victim can file a civil lawsuit for damages within 10 years of the date he/she discovers that the act of childhood sexual abuse occurred and that his/her injury was caused by childhood sexual abuse.
Indiana Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 A civil action must be filed within 2 years of when the cause of action accrues. All child sexual abuse actions must be filed before the child becomes 31-years-old. A rape charge can be filled within five years of the following occurring: :(1) the state first discovers DNA evidence sufficient to charge the offender; (2) the state first becomes aware of the existence of a recording that provides evidence sufficient to charge the offender; or (3) a person confesses to the offense.
Iowa Iowa Code § 614.8A A victim must file a civil lawsuit within 4 years of the discovery the child sex abuse injury.
Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-523 A victim must file the lawsuit within 3 years from the age of 18, or 3 years from the date he/she realizes she/she has suffered an injury or illness caused by the sexual abuse.
Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.249 A civil action for child sex abuse can be filed within 5 years of the last act of abuse occurring. It can also be filed within 5 years of the date the victim’s discovery of the abuse or when the victim reaches the age of majority.
Louisiana La. Rev. Stat. § 9:2800.9. The victim must file a lawsuit for child sex abuse within 10 years from reaching the age of majority.
Maine Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 752-C Civil and criminal actions may be brought forth at anytime.
Maryland Md. Cts. and Jud. Proc. § 5-117 The victim must file a lawsuit within 7 years from reaching the age of majority.
Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4C The victim can file a civil lawsuit for child sex abuse damages within 35 years of the acts alleged injury or condition. The victim can also file suit within 7 years of the time the victim discovered that a psychological injury or condition occurred.
Michigan There is no criminal statute of limitation for child sexual abuse in the 1st degree in Michigan. Sexual abuse in the 2nd to 4th degree must be filed within 10 years from the date it occurred, or by the time the child reaches 21 (whichever is later).
Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 541.073 The victim must file a civil lawsuit for child sex abuse damages within 6 years of the time he/she knew or had reason to know that the injury was caused by sexual abuse. The 6 year statute of limitation commences one year after the plaintiff reaches the age of majority and will terminate by age 25.
Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49 The victim must file a civil suit for damages within 3 years from the date the sexual abuse occurred or within 3 years of reaching the age of majority.
Missouri Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.046 The victim must file a civil lawsuit within 5 years from reaching the age of majority or within 3 years from the date he/she discovers a physical or psychological injury.
Montana Mont. Code § 27-2-216(a) The victim must file a civil suit for damages within 3 years from the date the sexual abuse occurred or within 3 years after the time of discovery or reasonably should have discovered that the injury was caused by the act of childhood sexual abuse.
Nebraska The victim must file a claim within 4 years from the date the injury occurred. Victims can also file a lawsuit within 3 years after reaching the age of majority.
Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.215 The victim must file a lawsuit within 10 years after reaching the age of majority, or within 10 years  of discovery that injury was caused by the abuse.
New Hampshire N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4-9 The victim can file a lawsuit within 12 years after reaching the age of majority, or within 3 years of the time he/she discovers the injury.
New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:61B-1  The victim must file a civil lawsuit for damages within 2 years of the date of the “reasonable discovery”  of the injury and its causal relationship to the act of sexual abuse.
New Mexico N.M. Code § 37-1-30 The victim must file a civil claim for damages by his/her 24th birthday or within 3 years from the date the abuse is discovered.
New York N.Y. Civil Prac. Law § 215 Actions for intentional sexual abuse can be filed within one year of the abuse occurring. In addition, actions for civil damages for defined sexual crimes, including sexual abuse of a minor, may be brought within 5 years of the acts constituting the sexual offense.
North Carolina State v. Hardin, 201 S.E.2d 74 (N.C. Ct. App. 1973) There is no statute of limitation for child sex abuse claims in North Carolina.
North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-25.1 The plaintiff must file a lawsuit within ten years after the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known that a potential claim exists resulting from alleged childhood sexual abuse.
Ohio Ohio Code § 2305.111(c) The victim can file a lawsuit for child sex abuse damages within 12 years from the age of majority.
Oklahoma The victim can file a lawsuit within 2 years from the date of the last abuse occurring, two years after reaching 18-years-old, or two year of discovery.
Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.117 The victim must file a claim within 6 years after reaching the age of majority or 3 years of discovery of the injury.
Pennsylvania Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 42 § 5533(b) The victim must file a claim within 12 years after reaching the age of majority.
Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-51 The victim must file a claim within 3 years of accrual or within 7 years of the last act or discovery that the injury or illness was caused by child sexual abuse.
South Carolina S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-555 The victim must file a claim within 6 years after reaching 21-years of age or 3 years from the time the victim realizes that their injuries were caused by child sexual abuse.
South Dakota S.D. Codified Laws § 26-10-25 The victim must file a lawsuit within 3 years of the act or discovery of the injury caused by the child sexual abuse.
Tennessee Tenn. Code 28-3-104 and 28-1-106 The victim must file a lawsuit within one year of reaching the age of majority.
Texas Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.0045 The victim must file a lawsuit within 5 years of reaching the age of majority.
Utah Utah Code § 78B-2-309 A victim of child sexual abuse may file a civil action at any time.
Vermont The victim must file a civil lawsuit within 6 years of the act occurring.
Virginia The victim must file a civil lawsuit within 2 years of the act occurring once the person reaches the age of majority.
Washington Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.340 The victim must file a civil lawsuit within 3 years of the act occurring, 3 years from the time of discovery of the injury, or within 3 years of the time the victim discovered that the sexual abuse acts caused him/her injury.
West Virginia W. Va. Code § 55-2-15 There is no statute of limitation for felony child sexual abuse in West Virginia. The statute of limitation is one year for a misdemeanor offense.
Wisconsin Wis. Stat. § 893.587 A claim may be filed two years of reaching age of majority.
Wyoming Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105 A claim may be filed eight years after the victim’s 18th birthday or 3 years after the time of the discovery.
Our child injury lawyers invite you to contact them to discuss your child sex abuse claim in confidence. You may be able to prosecute the perpetrator and obtain damages against him or her for your injuries. pain & suffering.