What is the statute of limitations for contract claims in Ohio?

1. Written Contracts

Ohio Revised Code § 2305.06 provides an 8-year SOL for actions upon a specialty or a written agreement, contract, or promise. (Ohio reduced this from 15 to 8 years in 2012, and to its current form in subsequent amendments.)

2. Oral Contracts

R.C. § 2305.07 imposes a 6-year SOL on oral contracts and on liabilities created by statute.

3. Sealed Instruments / Promissory Notes

Promissory notes fall under the 8-year written-contract SOL. UCC Article 3 governs negotiable instruments.

4. Sale of Goods (UCC Article 2)

R.C. § 1302.98 (UCC § 2-725) provides a 4-year SOL for breach-of-sales claims from tender of delivery. Parties may shorten to 1 year; extensions are barred.

5. Open Account / Account Stated

Open accounts use the 6-year SOL under § 2305.07. Account stated likewise 6 years.

6. Accrual Rule

The cause accrues at breach. Each missed installment starts its own SOL.

7. Discovery Rule for Fraudulent Concealment

Ohio applies the discovery rule narrowly in contract cases. SOL is tolled where the defendant fraudulently concealed the breach (R.C. § 2305.16).

8. Tolling

R.C. § 2305.16 tolls for minority and unsound mind. SCRA tolls for active military service. Defendant absence from Ohio may toll under § 2305.15.

9. Contractual Modification of SOL

Ohio courts permit reasonable contractual shortening of SOL but disfavor extensions.

10. Borrowing Statute

R.C. § 2305.03(B) borrows the shorter SOL when the cause of action accrued outside Ohio against a non-resident defendant.

This is legal information, not legal advice.