Statute of Limitations in North Dakota
State-specific overview · Contract Law
North Dakota allows six years for most contract claims and two years for personal injury lawsuits.
How North Dakota treats Statute of Limitations
Personal injury claims, including medical malpractice, must be filed within two years of the injury or discovery of the injury. Contract disputes have a six-year statute of limitations from the date of breach. North Dakota recognizes the discovery rule for medical malpractice, allowing the two-year period to begin when the injury is discovered. Wrongful death claims also follow the two-year timeline from discovery of the death and its cause.
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 North Dakota.