Statute of Limitations for Assault and Battery (intentional tort) in Arkansas

Overview

Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Statute Of Limitations calculator.

Arkansas’s statute of limitations (SOL) for an intentional tort “assault and battery” claim is generally 6 years under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2).

Because your question focuses on assault and battery as an intentional tort, the practical takeaway is this: Arkansas’s default limitations period is 6 years, unless a different, claim-type-specific rule applies. In the jurisdiction data provided here, no claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified, so this page uses the general/default period as the operative SOL.

If you’re building a case timeline, start by mapping these dates:

• Date of incident (the event that triggered the claim)
• Date you filed (or expect to file)
• Any date of tolling or delay (if the facts support it)

Use DocketMath to help you run the timeline quickly in /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Limitation period

Arkansas’s general SOL period is 6 years. The controlling rule used for the default period is: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2).

How the “6-year default” works in practice

When the general rule applies, the clock runs from the applicable accrual date for your claim. In many tort scenarios, the accrual date is closely tied to the injury-causing event (for example, the date of the alleged assault/battery). However, real-world filing deadlines can be affected by when a claim is considered to have accrued.

Because this page is based on the default rule (and no claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified), treat the 6-year period as your baseline:

• Start with the accrual/start date that best matches your facts
• Count forward 6 years
• Compare that to your filing date
• Then check for exceptions and tolling (next section)

Quick timeline example

If an alleged assault and battery occurred on June 1, 2020:

• Baseline SOL end date (6 years later): June 1, 2026
• Filing on May 30, 2026: likely within the default SOL window
• Filing on June 2, 2026: likely outside the default SOL window unless an exception/tolling concept applies

Exact accrual details can still matter—use this as an anchor, then verify whether any exception affects your timeline.

Common inputs you’ll use in DocketMath

When using DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool for Arkansas, you typically provide:

• Jurisdiction: Arkansas (US-AR)
• Claim start date (often the incident date, unless your facts support a different accrual date)
• Filing date
• Optional timing-related selections (if the tool supports them)

Check the output for:

• Whether your filing date is within SOL or outside SOL
• The computed deadline date

Key exceptions

Arkansas SOL calculations are not always “just add 6 years.” Even when the default period is 6 years under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2), exceptions can change the deadline.

Because this content uses the general/default period (and no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found), the key is to focus on timing issues that can affect when the deadline runs—such as tolling or accrual timing.

Potential exception categories to verify

Use this checklist to confirm whether your facts require a different calculation than the baseline:

What to look for in your facts

A practical method is to document:

• A clear incident date
• A clear injury/discovery/accrual date (if later than the incident)
• Any reason your deadline might be paused or extended (and supporting facts)

If you’re unsure whether an exception applies, run the baseline calculation first in DocketMath, then re-run using the date logic that matches your best-supported accrual/tolling theory.

Statute citation

Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2) provides the general 6-year limitations period used here as the default SOL.

The jurisdiction data indicates no claim-type-specific sub-rule for assault and battery, so the 6-year default period is the rule applied in this article.

When you record your calculation in your workflow, keep these items tied to the deadline logic:

• Baseline period: 6 years
• Statute: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2)
• Assumption: default rule applies (no claim-type-specific sub-rule identified)

Disclaimer: This is general information about limitations timing, not legal advice. If your situation involves tolling, unusual accrual facts, or competing theories, consider confirming details with a qualified professional.

Use the calculator

To compute your Arkansas deadline using the baseline 6-year rule, use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Inputs to enter

Before you click “calculate,” decide what date to use for the SOL start:

• Start date: generally the incident date (or other accrual date if supported by your facts)
• Filing date: the date you filed (or plan to file)
• Jurisdiction: Arkansas (US-AR)
• Rule selection: default **6-year SOL under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2)

How outputs change with different inputs

• If you move the start date later (for example, using a later accrual/discovery date), the computed deadline typically moves later by the same amount of time.
• If you move the filing date later, the tool may change the result from within SOL to outside SOL.
• If the tool supports exception/tolling inputs and you have facts supporting them, adding those elements can extend the deadline beyond the baseline 6-year date.

Practical workflow

1. Run the baseline calculation using the incident date as the start date.
2. If facts suggest a different accrual date or tolling applies, run a second calculation using the updated date logic.
3. Compare results and save the calculation snapshots for your case file.

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Arkansas and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator