"Statutes of limitations" are laws that set time limits on how long you have to file a "civil" lawsuit, like a personal injury lawsuit, or how long the state has to prosecute someone for committing a crime. These time limits usually depend on the legal claim or crime involved in the case, and they're different from state to state. For example, in some states you may have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit after you were hurt in car accident, but in other states you may have two years. As a general rule:
- The time period begins to run on the date your claim arises or "accrues," like the day of the car accident, or when a crime is committed, and
- Once the statute of limitations has expired or "run," you can't file a lawsuit (or be prosecuted for a crime)
Below are the statutes of limitations in Arkansas for various civil claims and crimes. The list doesn't cover everything. Also, the laws may change at anytime, so be sure to check the current laws and read them carefully, or talk to an attorney if you have any questions.
Civil
Note: Most of the civil statute of limitations are in Title 16, Subtitle 5, of the Arkansas Code, which you can scroll or search through to find the statute of limitations for civil claims or "causes of action" not listed below.
Description |
Statute
|
Assault and Battery, 1 year |
Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-104 |
Contract (in writing), 5 years |
Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111 |
Contract (oral or not in writing), 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. §16-56-105 |
Enforcing Court Judgments, 10 years |
Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-114 |
Fraud, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. §16-56-105 |
Legal Malpractice, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. §16-56-105 |
Medical Malpractice, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. §16-114-203 |
Personal Injury, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. §16-56-105 |
Product Liability, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. §16-116-103 |
Property Damage, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. §16-56-105 |
Slander, 1 year |
Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-104 |
Trespass, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. §16-56-105 |
Wrongful Death, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. §16-114-203 |
Criminal
Note: Arkansas' criminal statutes of limitations are, generally, in § 5-1-109 of the Arkansas Code. You can scroll through the criminal laws in Title 5 to find crimes not listed below, and then use § 5-1-109 to find the statutes of limitations for those crimes.
Description |
Statute
|
Arson, 1 to 6 years (Depending on the amount of property damage) |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(1) - (3) |
Assault and Battery, 1 to 6 years (Depending on the facts and circumstances of the crime) |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(1) - (3) |
Burglary, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2) |
Disorderly Conduct, 1 year |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(3) |
Kidnapping, 3 or 6 years (Depending on whether the victim was released alive before trial) |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(1)(A), (2) |
Manslaughter 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2) |
Murder, No time limit |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(a) |
Rape, Six or 15 years (Depending on the evidence or proof in the case) |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(1)(A), (B) |
Receiving Stolen Property, 1 or 3 years (Depending on the type and value of the property received) |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2), (3) |
Robbery, 3 years |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2) |
Theft, 1 or 3 years (Depending on the type and value of the property taken) |
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2), (3) |