Claims & Compensation2 min check

Claim Limitation Date Checker

See the rough deadline for issuing court proceedings in your case. Limitation is strict — once expired, the claim usually dies.

Short answer

UK limitation periods: Personal injury & clinical negligence — 3 years from injury or knowledge. Contract — 6 years (12 if deed). Negligence (non-injury) — 6 years. Defamation — 1 year. Children: clock starts at 18. Mental capacity issues can extend indefinitely.

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Calculation method, coverage and version

Inputs used: Type of claim, Date of incident or knowledge, Claimant.
Calculation approach: The calculator applies the rules and assumptions described in “How it works” to the values you enter. Rounding can cause small differences from an official or provider calculation.
Coverage: Claims & Compensation. UK nations, tax treatment, local rules and provider criteria can differ; check the official sources shown below before acting.
Content version: No page-specific review date is currently published. Treat the result as indicative and verify current rules independently.

Not included unless explicitly requested: personal circumstances not entered, provider discretion, future rule changes, professional fees and case-specific exceptions. Read the full calculator methodology.

Primary sources and official verification

Use these official sources to verify current rules before acting. Coverage and dates can differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

See the sitewide source policy.

How it works

We compare the date of incident (or date of knowledge) against the relevant limitation period for the claim type. If you're outside, the claim is statute-barred unless a court grants discretion (s.33 Limitation Act 1980 for PI cases).

Worked example

Slip in 2022, no claim filed by 2025 → personal injury time-barred unless you can prove later 'date of knowledge' (e.g. delayed diagnosis of injury).

Who should use this

•Anyone unsure if they're still in time to claim
•Solicitors triaging incoming enquiries
•Family members claiming after a delayed discovery

Common mistakes

×Assuming limitation runs from when you decided to claim (it doesn't — it runs from incident or knowledge)
×Missing the date by even 1 day (case dismissed)
×Not preserving evidence — limitation can extend, but evidence rarely improves with time

Frequently asked questions

Can a court extend limitation?▾

For PI, yes — under s.33 Limitation Act 1980 the court has discretion. Other claim types are stricter.

Children?▾

Limitation doesn't start until they turn 18. So 18+3 = age 21 for PI.

Lacking mental capacity?▾

Limitation is paused while the claimant lacks capacity (s.28 Limitation Act 1980).

Related calculators

Personal Injury →Medical Negligence →RTA Claim →