The statute of limitations sets the deadline for filing civil or criminal cases in Florida. It varies based on the type of case, as detailed below.
Civil Statute of Limitations
- Personal Injury (e.g., Car Accidents): 4 years
- Medical Malpractice: 2 years (from discovery), max 4 years
- Attorney Malpractice: 2 years (from discovery), max 4 years
- Written Contracts: 5 years
- Oral Contracts: 4 years
- Debt Collection (e.g., Credit Card Lawsuits):
- 5 years (written debt)
- 4 years (oral debt)
- Property Damage: 4 years
- Wrongful Death: 2 years
- Fraud: 4 years (from discovery)
- Defamation (Libel/Slander): 2 years
- Judgment Collection: 20 years
- Real Estate Disputes: 4 years
- Product Liability: 4 years
- Workers’ Compensation:
- 2 years (from injury or last benefits)
- Tax Liens: 20 years
- Construction Defects:
- 4 years (from discovery)
- 10 years (latent defects)
- Environmental Claims: 5 years
- Employment or Housing Discrimination: 1 year
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty: 4 years
- Professional Malpractice: 2 years (from discovery), max 4 years
- Insurance Claims (e.g., Homeowners, Auto): 5 years
- Breach of Lease Agreements:
- 5 years (written leases)
- 4 years (oral leases)
Criminal Statute of Limitations
- Human Trafficking: No limit
- Capital Felonies: No limit
- Life Felonies: No limit
- First-Degree Felonies: 4 years
- Other Felonies: 3 years
- First-Degree Misdemeanors: 2 years
- Second-Degree Misdemeanors: 1 year
- Sexual Battery (Minor Victim): No limit
- Sexual Battery (Adult Victim): 8 years (or no limit if DNA evidence exists)
- Theft: 5 years
- Arson: No limit
- Fraudulent Activity Involving Government Funds: 5 years
- Embezzlement: 3 years
- DUI Charges:
- Misdemeanor: 1–2 years
- Felony: 3–4 years
- Drug Possession:
- Felony: 3 years
- Misdemeanor: 1 year
- Kidnapping: No limit
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