How much time do you have to file a lawsuit in Arizona?

A statute of limitation can limit the time period in which a person can file a lawsuit. Evary state?s statutes are different regarding the amount of time in which a person can file a lawsuit. Statutes can also vary per state according to the type of claim one is pursuing.

Arizona Statutes

Arizona Statutes of Limitation

Malicious prosecution; false imprisonment; libel or slander; seduction or breach of promise of marriage; breach of employment contract; wrongful termination; liability created by statute; one year limitation

There shall be commenced and prosecuted within one year after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions:

1. For malicious prosecution, or for false imprisonment, or for injuries done to the character or reputation of another by libel or slander.

2. For damages for seduction or breach of promise of marriage.

3. For breach of an oral or written employment contract including contract actions based on employee handbooks or policy manuals that do not specify a time period in which to bring an action.

4. For damages for wrongful termination.

5. Upon a liability created by statute, other than a penalty or forfeiture.

Injury to person; injury when death ensues; injury to property; conversion of property; forcible entry and forcible detainer; two year limitation

Except as provided in section 12-551 there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions:

1. For injuries done to the person of another including causes of action for medical malpractice as defined in section 12-561.

2. For injuries done to the person of another when death ensues from such injuries, which action shall be considered as accruing at the death of the party injured.

3. For trespass for injury done to the estate or the property of another.

4. For taking or carrying away the goods and chattels of another.

5. For detaining the personal property of another and for converting such property to one's own use.

6. For forcible entry or forcible detainer, which action shall be considered as accruing at the commencement of the forcible entry or detainer.

Oral debt; stated or open account; relief on ground of fraud or mistake; three year limitation

There shall be commenced and prosecuted within three years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions:

1. For debt where the indebtedness is not evidenced by a contract in writing.

2. Upon stated or open accounts other than such mutual and current accounts as concern the trade of merchandise between merchant and merchant, their factors or agents, but no item of a stated or open account shall be barred so long as any item thereof has been incurred within three years immediately prior to the bringing of an action thereon.

3. For relief on the ground of fraud or mistake, which cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovary by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud or mistake.

Bond to convey realty; partnership account; account between merchants; judgment or instrument given or made without the state; four year limitation

There shall be commenced and prosecuted within four years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions:

1. For the penalty or for damages on the penal clause of a bond to convey real property.

2. By one partner against his copartner for a settlement of the partnership account, or upon mutual and current accounts concerning the trade of merchandise between merchant and merchant, their factors or agents, and the cause of action shall be considered as having accrued upon a cessation of the dealings in which they were interested together.

3. Upon a judgment or decree of a court rendered without the state, or upon an instrument in writing executed without the state. This paragraph does not apply to a judgment for support, as defined in section 25-500, and to associated costs and attorney fees.

4. An action arising under the provisions of title 47, chapter 2, for breach of any contract of sale, which action shall be governed by section 47-2725, notwithstanding any other provision of this section or of section 12-543 or 12-548.

Bond of personal representative or guardian; four year limitation

An action on the bond of an executor, administrator or guardian shall be commenced and prosecuted within four years after the death, resignation, removal or discharge of such executor, administrator or guardian, and not afterward.

Specific performance of contract to convey realty; four year limitation

An action for specific performance of a contract for the conveyance of real property shall be commenced within four years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward.

Failure to make return on execution; five year limitation

When execution has issued and no return is made thereon, the party in whose favor the execution was issued may proceed against the sheriff or other officer and his sureties for not making return within five years from the day on which it was returnable, and not afterward.

Contract in writing for debt; six year limitation

An action for debt where indebtedness is evidenced by or founded upon a contract in writing executed within the state shall be commenced and prosecuted within six years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward.

Foreign judgment

An action upon a judgment or decree rendered in another state or foreign country shall be barred if by the laws of such state or country such action would there be barred and the judgment or decree is incapable of being otherwise enforced there.

General limitation

Actions other than for recovary of real property for which no limitation is otherwise prescribed shall be brought within four years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward.

Product liability

A product liability action as defined in section 12-681 shall be commenced and prosecuted within the period prescribed in section 12-542, except that no product liability action may be commenced and prosecuted if the cause of action accrues more than twelve years after the product was first sold for use or consumption, unless the cause of action is based upon the negligence of the manufacturer or seller or a breach of an express warranty provided by the manufacturer or seller.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage; claims; time limits

A. An insurer is not liable for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage benefits unless the person making the claim gives notice to the insurer in writing of the person's intent to pursue the claim against the uninsured or underinsured motorist portion of a motor vehicle insurance policy within three years after the person knows or should know that the party that the person claims caused the harm does not have liability insurance or has insufficient liability insurance to cover the person's injuries.

B. An insurer shall bring an action for subrogation and reimbursement pursuant to section 20-259.01 within two years after the date the insurer first makes payment to the insured under the uninsured motorist coverage.
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*The information on this website regarding Statutes of Limitations is for informational purposes only and may not be up to date or accurate.