Ohio Statute of Limitations

Ohio's statutes of limitations are spread across various sections of the Ohio Revised Code. The state recently reformed several deadlines, including reducing the personal injury window in some scenarios. Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and other Ohio courts strictly enforce these timelines.

Ohio Statute of Limitations — Quick Reference

Case Type	Time Limit
Personal Injury	2 years
Medical Malpractice	1 year
Written Contracts	8 years
Oral Contracts	6 years
Property Damage	4 years
Defamation (Libel/Slander)	1 year
Fraud	4 years
Wrongful Death	2 years

Detailed Breakdown by Case Type

Personal Injury

2 years Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10

Personal injury claims must be filed within 2 years from the date of injury. Ohio reduced this from a longer period in recent reforms.

Medical Malpractice

1 year Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.113

Ohio has one of the shortest medical malpractice windows — just 1 year from discovery, with a 4-year absolute statute of repose.

Written Contracts

8 years Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06

Written contracts in Ohio have an 8-year window, reduced from 15 years in 2012.

Oral Contracts

6 years Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07

Oral contracts have a 6-year deadline.

Property Damage

4 years Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.09

Property damage claims must be filed within 4 years.

Defamation (Libel/Slander)

1 year Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.11

Defamation claims have a strict 1-year window from publication.

Fraud

4 years Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.09(C)

Fraud claims must be filed within 4 years from the date of discovery.

Wrongful Death

2 years Ohio Rev. Code § 2125.02(D)

Wrongful death actions must be brought within 2 years of the death.

⏸️ Ohio Tolling & Exceptions

Ohio tolling provisions include: minority (until age 18); mental incompetence; the defendant being absent from the state; and the discovery rule for medical malpractice and certain fraud cases.

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⚠️ Important Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Statutes of limitations can be affected by tolling provisions, the discovery rule, government claim requirements, and other factors specific to your case. Always consult a licensed Ohio attorney before taking any legal action. Laws may change — verify current statutes before relying on this information.