Statute of Limitations in Illinois
State-specific overview · Contract Law
Illinois requires personal injury suits within 2 years and contract claims within 10 years.
How Illinois treats Statute of Limitations
Illinois has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury, negligence, and product liability claims under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Written contracts have a longer 10-year window, while oral contracts allow 6 years. Medical malpractice claims follow the 2-year rule but include a discovery exception: if the injury was not reasonably discoverable, the clock may start when the plaintiff knew or should have known of the injury.
The general definition of Statute of Limitations
A law setting the maximum time period within which a lawsuit can be filed after an injury or breach occurs.
Every type of legal claim has a deadline. Once that deadline passes, you lose the right to sue, even if you have a valid claim. The statute of limitations varies depending on the type of case—contract disputes might have a different deadline than personal injury claims, for example. These time limits exist to protect defendants from being sued years or decades after an event, when evidence may be lost and memories fade. Once the deadline expires, the claim is essentially dead, and courts will dismiss any lawsuit filed after that point.
Read the full Statute of Limitations entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Illinois.