Deadline to Sue for Defamation by State (2026)
How long you have to sue for libel and slander in each state, from each state's code.
This table covers 35 of 51 jurisdictions (50 states and DC). A state that is not listed has no rule here that we could verify against an official source yet.
| State | Deadline to sue for defamation (libel and slander) |
|---|---|
| Arizona | In Arizona you must sue within one year after the cause of action accrues for injuries done to a person's character or reputation by libel or slander. The same one-year deadline applies to both libel and slander. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-541(1) |
| Arkansas | Arkansas sets different deadlines for spoken and written defamation. A lawsuit for slander ("words spoken slandering the character of another") must be filed within one year after the cause of action accrues. A lawsuit for libel must be filed within three years. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 16-56-104(3), 16-56-105(5) (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code) |
| California | In California you must sue for libel or slander within 1 year from the date of injury. The same one-year deadline applies to both written and spoken defamation. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 340(c); Judicial Branch of California Self-Help Guide, "Deadlines to sue someone" |
| Colorado | In Colorado, a lawsuit for libel or slander must be filed within one year. The one-year period begins when the person knew, or with reasonable diligence should have known, both of the injury and that it was caused by the defendant's statement, and each separate publication is a separate claim. C.R.S. §§ 13-80-103(1)(a), 13-80-108(1), as stated in Colorado Model Civil Jury Instruction 22:23 (Source and Authority) |
| Connecticut | In Connecticut you must sue for libel or slander within two years from the date of the act complained of. The same two-year deadline applies to both written (libel) and spoken (slander) defamation. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-597 |
| Delaware | Delaware's statutes do not set a separate deadline for libel or slander. Delaware courts treat defamation as a personal-injury claim, so it must be filed within two years under the personal-injury statute, which bars actions brought "after the expiration of 2 years" from the date the injury was sustained. The same two-year deadline applies to both libel and slander. 10 Del. C. § 8119; Clark v. Delaware Psychiatric Center, C.A. No. 11C-01-012 MMJ (Del. Super. Aug. 9, 2011) |
| District of Columbia | In D.C. you must sue for libel or slander within 1 year. The same one-year limit in the statute also covers assault, battery, malicious prosecution and false arrest. D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(4) |
| Florida | In Florida you have 2 years to sue for libel (written defamation) or slander (spoken defamation); both fall under the same 2-year rule. For a single publication or broadcast, the claim is treated as starting on the first publication in Florida. Fla. Stat. §§ 95.11(5)(h), 770.07 |
| Georgia | In Georgia, lawsuits for injuries to reputation, which covers both libel (written) and slander (spoken), must be filed within 1 year after the claim arises. That is shorter than the 2-year limit for most personal injuries. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code) |
| Iowa | In Iowa, lawsuits for injuries to reputation, which covers libel (written) and slander (spoken), must be filed within 2 years. Iowa Code § 614.1(2) (Iowa Code 2026) |
| Kansas | In Kansas a lawsuit for libel (written) or slander (spoken) must be filed within 1 year. K.S.A. 60-514(a) |
| Kentucky | In Kentucky a lawsuit for libel (written) or slander (spoken) must be filed within 1 year after the claim arises. KRS 413.140(1)(d) |
| Louisiana | Louisiana does not set a separate deadline just for libel or slander. Defamation is a delictual (tort) action, and since July 1, 2024 delictual actions must be filed within two years, counted from the day the injury or damage is sustained (Civil Code art. 3493.1). The older one-year rule in art. 3492 was repealed by Acts 2024, No. 423. La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 |
| Maine | A lawsuit for slander or libel must be filed within 2 years after the cause of action accrues. The same 2-year deadline applies to both. 14 M.R.S. §753 |
| Maryland | A lawsuit for libel or slander must be filed within one year from the date the claim accrues. The same one-year deadline also applies to assault. Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. §5-105 |
| Massachusetts | Lawsuits for slander or libel must be filed within three years after the cause of action accrues. The same three-year deadline applies to both. M.G.L. c. 260, §4 |
| Minnesota | A lawsuit for libel or slander must be filed within two years. The same two-year deadline applies to both. Minn. Stat. §541.07(1) |
| Mississippi | A lawsuit for libel or slander must be filed within one year after the cause of action accrues. The same one-year limit covers assault, false imprisonment, malicious arrest and similar claims. Miss. Code Ann. §15-1-35 (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code) |
| Missouri | A lawsuit for libel or slander must be filed within two years. The same two-year deadline also covers injurious falsehood, assault, battery and false imprisonment. RSMo §516.140 |
| Montana | You have 2 years to sue for libel (written defamation) or slander (spoken defamation) in Montana. The same 2-year limit applies to both. MCA § 27-2-204(3) |
| New Mexico | You have three years to sue for an injury to your reputation, which covers both libel (written) and slander (spoken), in New Mexico. NMSA 1978, § 37-1-8 |
| New York | You have one year to sue for libel (written defamation) or slander (spoken defamation) in New York. The same one-year deadline also covers false words causing special damages and right-of-privacy claims under Civil Rights Law § 51. N.Y. CPLR 215(3) |
| North Dakota | In North Dakota, a lawsuit for libel or slander must be filed within two years after the claim accrues; the same two-year limit applies to both. N.D.C.C. § 28-01-18(1) |
| Oklahoma | In Oklahoma, a lawsuit for libel or slander must be filed within one year after the cause of action accrues. 12 O.S. § 95(A)(4) |
| Pennsylvania | In Pennsylvania, a lawsuit for libel, slander or invasion of privacy must be filed within one year. 42 Pa.C.S. § 5523(1) |
| South Carolina | In South Carolina, a lawsuit for libel or slander must be filed within two years. S.C. Code § 15-3-550(1) |
| South Dakota | In South Dakota, a lawsuit for libel or slander must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues, unless a statute sets a different limit for a special case. SDCL § 15-2-15(1) |
| Tennessee | Tennessee has different deadlines for spoken and written defamation. A slander lawsuit (spoken words) must be filed within six months after the words are uttered. A libel lawsuit (written or published) must be filed within one year after the cause of action accrued. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 28-3-103, 28-3-104(a)(1)(A) (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code) |
| Texas | In Texas you must sue for libel or slander (defamation) within one year after the claim arises. The same one-year deadline applies to both written and spoken defamation. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.002(a) |
| Utah | In Utah you must sue for libel or slander (defamation) within one year. The same one-year deadline applies to written and spoken defamation. Utah Code § 78B-2-302(4) |
| Vermont | In Vermont you must sue for slander or libel (defamation) within three years after the claim arises. The same three-year deadline applies to spoken and written defamation. 12 V.S.A. § 512(3) |
| Virginia | In Virginia, a lawsuit for libel, slander, insulting words or defamation must be filed within one year after the claim arises. If the statements were published anonymously or under a false identity on the internet, the deadline is paused until the publisher's identity is discovered or reasonably should have been. Va. Code § 8.01-247.1 |
| Washington | In Washington you must sue for libel or slander (defamation) within two years. The same two-year deadline applies to written and spoken defamation. RCW 4.16.100(1) |
| West Virginia | In West Virginia, a lawsuit for libel or slander (defamation) must generally be filed within one year. The limitations statute does not name defamation, but the state Supreme Court of Appeals has held that libel and defamation fall under the one-year catch-all for personal actions that would not survive a party's death at common law. W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(c); Wilt v. State Auto. Mut. Ins. Co., No. 24579 (W. Va. 1998) |
| Wyoming | In Wyoming you must sue for libel or slander (defamation) within one year. The same one-year deadline applies to written and spoken defamation. W.S. 1-3-105(a)(v)(A) |
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Last verified against official sources: October 23, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.