"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 a car accident, but in other states you may have two years. As 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 Utah for various civil claims and crimes. The list doesn't cover everything. Also, the laws may change at any time, 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 78B, Chapter 2 of the Utah Code. You can scroll through the laws in this Chapter to find the statute of limitations for civil claims or "causes of action" not listed below.
Description |
Statute |
Assault and Battery, 4 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-307(3) |
Contract (in writing), 6 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-309(2) |
Contract (oral or not in writing), 4 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-302(1)(a) |
False Imprisonment, 1 year |
Utah Code § 78B-2-302(4) |
Fraud, 3 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-305(3) |
Enforcing Court Judgments, 8 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-311 |
Legal Malpractice, 4 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-307(3) |
Libel, 1 year |
Utah Code § 78-B2-302(4) |
Medical Malpractice, 2 years |
Utah Code § 78B-3-404(1) |
Personal Injury, 4 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-307(3) |
Product Liability, 2 years |
Utah Code § 78B-6-706 |
Property Damage, 3 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-305(2) |
Slander, 1 year |
Utah Code § 78B-2-302(4) |
Trespass, 3 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-305(1) |
Wrongful Death, 2 years |
Utah Code § 78B-2-304(2) |
Criminal
Note: Most of the criminal statutes of limitations are in Title 76, Chapter 1 of the Utah Code. You can scroll through the criminal laws (found in Title 76 ) to find crimes not listed below, and then use Title 15, Chapter 3 to find the statutes of limitations for those crimes.
Description |
Statute |
Arson, 2 or 4 years (Depending on the facts of the case) |
Utah Code § 76-1-302(1)(a) or (b) |
Assault, 2 years |
Utah Code § 76-1-302(1)(b) |
Burglary, 4 years |
Utah Code § 76-1-302(1)(a) |
Disorderly Conduct, 1 or 2 years (Depending on the facts of the case) |
Utah Code § 76-1-302(1)(b) or (c) |
Kidnapping, No time limit or 4 years (Depending on the facts of the case) |
Utah Code § 76-1-301 or Utah Code § 76-1-302(1)(a) |
Manslaughter, voluntary, No time limit |
Utah Code § 76-1-301(4) |
Murder, capital, No time limit |
Utah Code § 76-1-301(1) |
Murder, No time limit |
Utah Code § 76-1-301(3) |
Rape, No time limit |
Utah Code § 76-1-301(8) |
Receiving Stolen Property, 2 or 4 years (Depending on the facts of the case) |
Utah Code § 76-1-302(1)(a) or (b) |
Robbery, 4 years |
Utah Code § 76-1-302(1)(a) |
Theft, 2 or 4 years (Depending on the facts of the case) |
Utah Code § 76-1-302(1)(a) or (b) |