Find out when a legal claim becomes time-barred, starting from the date the cause of action accrued and the type of claim, under the Limitation Act 1980.
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Enter the date the cause of action accrued and the type of claim.
Under the Limitation Act 1980, most contract and tort claims must be brought within 6 years, personal injury within 3 years, and actions on a deed or to recover land within 12 years. Time runs from when the cause of action accrued.
1 January 2024 + 6 years → 1 January 2030Indicative legal figures, not advice. Results are estimates — final decisions rest with the court and depend on the specific case. Check the law in force. Instant in-browser calculation, no account.
Last updated: 11 July 2026 Source: legislation.gov.uk — Limitation Act 1980
§ Results are for informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice. For specific situations, consult a lawyer or a notary.
The expiry date is found by adding the limitation period to the accrual date (when the cause of action arose):
For a simple contract breach that accrued on 15 Mar 2019 with a 6-year period: the claim becomes time-barred on 15 Mar 2025.
Most simple contract and tort claims must be brought within 6 years of the date the cause of action accrued, under the Limitation Act 1980. Claims on a deed (a specialty) have a longer 12-year period.
Personal injury claims usually have a 3-year limit, running from the date of injury or the date you first had knowledge of it. The court has a discretion to extend this in limited circumstances.
Time normally runs from the date the cause of action accrued — for contract, the date of breach; for tort, the date damage was suffered. Special rules on latent damage and deliberate concealment can postpone the start.
Action on a judgment is generally subject to a 6-year limit under the Limitation Act 1980, and interest is not usually recoverable for more than 6 years. Recovery of land or money charged on land has a 12-year period.
Yes. Fraud, concealment, mistake, disability or an acknowledgement of the debt can postpone or restart the clock. This calculator gives the basic expiry date only, without those adjustments.