Statute of Limitations in Missouri
State-specific overview · Contract Law
Missouri allows five years for personal injury claims, one of the longest periods in the nation.
How Missouri treats Statute of Limitations
Missouri provides a generous five-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits, measured from the date of injury. This longer window gives plaintiffs more time to discover injuries and pursue claims compared to the three-year standard in neighboring states. Medical malpractice claims also benefit from the five-year period, though the discovery rule may apply in cases where the injury was not immediately apparent. Written contracts have a ten-year limitation period in Missouri.
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 Missouri.