Sue Deadlines

All states

Statute of limitations in Massachusetts

3 yearsPersonal injury deadline

3 years (G.L. c. 260, s. 2A)1

The details

Personal injury
3 years for actions of tort and contract actions to recover for personal injuries (G.L. c. 260, s. 2A).1
Property damage
3 years for actions of tort and replevin (G.L. c. 260, s. 2A).1
Written contract
6 years on contracts or liabilities, express or implied, other than those to recover for personal injuries (G.L. c. 260, s. 2).2
Oral contract
6 years on contracts or liabilities, express or implied (G.L. c. 260, s. 2).2
Medical malpractice
3 years after accrual, and never more than 7 years after the act or omission unless a foreign object was left in the body (G.L. c. 260, s. 4).3
Defamation
3 years for slander or libel (G.L. c. 260, s. 4).3

The sources we read do not say: fraud, debt collection (open account), claims against the state government (notice deadline).

Deadlines usually run from the date of the harm or its discovery, and many exceptions apply. A lawyer can tell you how they apply to you.

Sources

  1. General Laws c. 260, s. 2A, Massachusetts Legislature, checked 1 November 2026
  2. General Laws c. 260, s. 2, Massachusetts Legislature, checked 1 November 2026
  3. General Laws c. 260, s. 4, Massachusetts Legislature, checked 1 November 2026

Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source used only because the official page could not be read.