What is the statute of limitations in Tennessee?

Tennessee civil limitations are codified in T.C.A. Title 28, Chapter 3.

1. Personal Injury — 1 Year

T.C.A. § 28-3-104(a)(1)(A): Actions for injuries to the person, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, criminal conversation — 1 year. This is among the shortest in the country.

2. Written Contract — 6 Years

T.C.A. § 28-3-109(a)(3): Actions on contracts not otherwise expressly provided for — 6 years.

3. Oral Contract — 6 Years

Same 6 years under § 28-3-109(a)(3).

4. Property Damage — 3 Years

T.C.A. § 28-3-105(1): Actions for injuries to personal or real property — 3 years.

5. Fraud — 3 Years (Discovery Rule)

T.C.A. § 28-3-105(1): Actions for the detention or conversion of personal property, and actions on the ground of fraud — 3 years. Discovery rule applies (Vance v. Schulder, 547 S.W.2d 927 (Tenn. 1977)).

6. Medical Malpractice — 1 Year / 3-Year Repose

T.C.A. § 29-26-116(a): Actions for health care liability — 1 year from accrual (using discovery rule). Statute of repose: in no event more than 3 years after the date of negligent act or omission, except in foreign-object cases (1 year from discovery) and fraudulent concealment. Minors: tolled to age 18, but capped by repose. Pre-suit notice: 60 days, with certificate of good faith required (T.C.A. § 29-26-121, -122).

7. Wrongful Death — 1 Year

T.C.A. § 28-3-104(a)(1)(A): Wrongful death — 1 year, same as the underlying personal injury action.

8. Other Notable Periods

Defamation (slander): 6 months (T.C.A. § 28-3-103); libel: 1 year (§ 28-3-104).

Judgments: 10 years, renewable (T.C.A. § 28-3-110).

UCC sale of goods: 4 years (T.C.A. § 47-2-725).

Government Tort Liability Act: 1 year to file claim against government entity (T.C.A. § 29-20-305).

Construction defect: 4 years repose for architects/contractors (T.C.A. § 28-3-202).

9. Tolling

T.C.A. § 28-1-106 tolls for minority (under 18) and unsound mind.

This is legal information, not legal advice.