Defamation Laws in New York

How long you have to sue for libel or slander in New York, and any retraction rules, from the state code.

Short answer: 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)

Deadline to sue for defamation (libel and slander)	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. Source: N.Y. CPLR 215(3)
Retraction (correction) rules	New York has no state law that requires a demand for retraction before suing for libel or slander. A defendant may prove mitigating circumstances, including the sources of the information and the grounds for belief, to reduce damages (Civil Rights Law § 78). Reviewed N.Y. Civil Rights Law article 7 libel and slander sections 74, 75, 76, 76-a, 77 and 78 on 2026-10-31; no provision found. Source: N.Y. Civil Rights Law §§ 74-78 (reviewed); § 78

Deadline to sue for defamation (libel and slander)

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.

Source: N.Y. CPLR 215(3)

Retraction (correction) rules

New York has no state law that requires a demand for retraction before suing for libel or slander. A defendant may prove mitigating circumstances, including the sources of the information and the grounds for belief, to reduce damages (Civil Rights Law § 78).

Reviewed N.Y. Civil Rights Law article 7 libel and slander sections 74, 75, 76, 76-a, 77 and 78 on 2026-10-31; no provision found.

Source: N.Y. Civil Rights Law §§ 74-78 (reviewed); § 78

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FAQ

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Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.

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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.