"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 Iowa 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 statutes of limitations are in Title 15, Subtitle 3, Chapter 614 of the Iowa Code. You need to use the links on the web site to get to the code sections noted below, or run a search using the code section number. Also, you can scroll through the laws in Chapter 614 to find the statute of limitations for civil claims or "causes of action" not listed below.
Description |
Statute
|
Assault and Battery, 2 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
Contract (in writing), 10 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(6) |
Contract (oral or not in writing), 5 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(4) |
False Imprisonment, 2 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
Fraud, 5 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(4) |
Enforcing Court Judgments, 20 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(6) |
Legal Malpractice, 2 or 5 years (Depending on the facts of the case) |
Iowa Code § 614.1(2) or Iowa Code § 614.1(2) or (4) |
Libel, 2 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
Medical Malpractice, 2 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(9)(a) |
Personal Injury, 2 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
Product Liability, 2 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
Property Damage, 5 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(4) |
Slander, 2 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
Trespass, 2 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(4) |
Wrongful Death, 2 years |
Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
Criminal
Note: Most of the Iowa criminal statutes of limitations are in Title 16, Subtitle 2, Chapter 802 of the Iowa Code. You need to use the links on the web site to get to the code sections noted below, or run a search using the code section number. Also, you can scroll through the criminal laws (found in Title 16, Subtitle 2) to find crimes not listed below, and then use Title 16, Subtitle 2, Chapter 802 to find the statutes of limitations for those crimes.
Description |
Statute
|
Arson, 3 years |
Iowa Code § 802.3 |
Assault and Battery, 3 years |
Iowa Code § 802.3 |
Burglary, 3 years |
Iowa Code § 802.3 |
Disorderly Conduct, 1 year |
Iowa Code § 802.4 |
Kidnapping, 3 years |
Iowa Code § 802.3 |
Manslaughter, voluntary, 3 years |
Iowa Code § 802.3 |
Manslaughter, involuntary, 3 years |
Iowa Code § 802.3 |
Murder, first degree, No time limit |
Iowa Code § 802.1 |
Murder, second degree, No time limit |
Iowa Code § 802.1 |
Rape (Sexual Abuse), 3 or 10 years (Depending on the facts of the case) |
Iowa Code § 802.2 or 802.3 |
Receiving Stolen Property, 1 or 3 years (Depending on the facts of the case) |
Iowa Code § 802.3 or 802.4 |
Robbery, 3 years |
Iowa Code § 802.3 |
Theft, 1 or 3 years (Depending on the facts of the case) |
Iowa Code § 802.3 or 802.4 |