Statute of Limitations in Massachusetts
State-specific overview · Contract Law
Massachusetts generally allows three years to sue for personal injury, but only one year for defamation claims.
How Massachusetts treats Statute of Limitations
Personal injury lawsuits must begin within three years of the injury date under Massachusetts law. Defamation and libel claims have a much shorter window of just one year. Medical malpractice claims also follow the three-year rule, though the discovery rule may extend this if the injury was not immediately apparent. Contract breaches typically allow six years to file suit.
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 Massachusetts.