What is the statute of limitations in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin civil limitations are codified in Wis. Stat. Chapter 893.

1. Personal Injury — 3 Years

Wis. Stat. § 893.54: The following actions shall be commenced within 3 years or be barred: (1) An action to recover damages for injuries to the person; (2) an action brought for wrongful death.

2. Written Contract — 6 Years

Wis. Stat. § 893.43(1): An action upon any contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied — 6 years.

3. Oral Contract — 6 Years

Same 6 years under § 893.43.

4. Property Damage — 6 Years

Wis. Stat. § 893.52: An action, not arising on contract, to recover damages for an injury to real or personal property — 6 years.

5. Fraud — 6 Years (Discovery Rule)

Wis. Stat. § 893.93(1m)(b): An action for relief on the ground of fraud — 6 years, accrual deferred until the aggrieved party discovers the facts constituting the fraud.

6. Medical Malpractice — 3 Years / 1-Year Discovery / 5-Year Repose

Wis. Stat. § 893.55(1m): An action for injury arising from any treatment or operation performed by, or from any omission by, a health care provider — 3 years from the date of injury OR 1 year from the date the injury was discovered or, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have been discovered, whichever is later, but not more than 5 years from the act or omission. Foreign objects: 1 year from discovery. Minors under 10: until age 10 or 3 years after, whichever later.

7. Wrongful Death — 3 Years

Wis. Stat. § 893.54(2): Wrongful death — 3 years from death.

8. Other Notable Periods

Defamation: 3 years (Wis. Stat. § 893.57; reduced from 2 years by 2011 Act 32... check; current is 3 per § 893.57).

Judgments: 20 years (Wis. Stat. § 893.40).

UCC sale of goods: 6 years in Wisconsin (Wis. Stat. § 402.725 — Wisconsin's UCC variant).

Notice of injury for political subdivisions: 120 days (Wis. Stat. § 893.80(1d)(a)).

Construction defect: 10-year repose (Wis. Stat. § 893.89).

9. Tolling

Wis. Stat. § 893.16 tolls for minority (under 18) and mental illness, with limits.

This is legal information, not legal advice.