What is the statute of limitations in Washington?

Washington civil limitations are codified in RCW Chapter 4.16.

1. Personal Injury — 3 Years

RCW 4.16.080(2): An action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including an action for the specific recovery thereof, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another not hereinafter enumerated — 3 years.

2. Written Contract — 6 Years

RCW 4.16.040(1): An action upon a contract in writing, or liability express or implied arising out of a written agreement — 6 years.

3. Oral Contract — 3 Years

RCW 4.16.080(3): An action upon a contract or liability, express or implied, which is not in writing, and does not arise out of any written instrument — 3 years.

4. Property Damage — 3 Years

RCW 4.16.080(1) (waste/trespass on real property) and (2) (personal property/personal injury) — 3 years.

5. Fraud — 3 Years (Discovery Rule)

RCW 4.16.080(4): An action for relief upon the ground of fraud, the cause of action in such case not to be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud — 3 years.

6. Medical Malpractice — 3 Years / 1-Year Discovery / 8-Year Repose

RCW 4.16.350: An action against a health care provider must be commenced within 3 years of the act or omission alleged, OR within 1 year of the time the patient discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury, whichever is later, but in no event more than 8 years after the act regardless of discovery (Washington Supreme Court invalidated the 8-year repose in DeYoung v. Providence (1998) for some claims, then reinstated by legislature; check current case law).

7. Wrongful Death — 3 Years

RCW 4.16.080: Wrongful death actions are governed by the 3-year general personal injury statute.

8. Other Notable Periods

Defamation: 2 years (RCW 4.16.100(1)).

Judgments: 10 years, renewable (RCW 4.16.020).

UCC sale of goods: 4 years (RCW 62A.2-725).

Construction: 6 years from substantial completion repose (RCW 4.16.310).

Action against governmental entity: claim filing required 60 days before suit (RCW 4.96.020).

9. Tolling

RCW 4.16.190 tolls for minority (under 18) and incompetency.

This is legal information, not legal advice.