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

Overview

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

In New Hampshire, the statute of limitations (SOL) for an intentional assault and battery civil claim is generally 3 years under RSA 508:4.

New Hampshire follows a general SOL period for civil actions, and—based on the jurisdiction data you provided—there isn’t a separate, claim-type-specific sub-rule identified for assault and battery. That means the default 3-year period is the starting point for calculating deadlines.

In practice, most SOL timing questions come down to two dates: (1) when the injury/event occurred (or another legally relevant accrual date) and (2) when the lawsuit was filed. The “clock” typically runs from a legally recognized start point, but specific facts can affect when accrual happens or whether tolling applies.

Limitation period

The baseline SOL period is 3 years for civil actions under RSA 508:4 in New Hampshire. Since no assault-and-battery-specific sub-rule was found in the jurisdiction data you provided, you should treat RSA 508:4 as the default rule for calculating the SOL for intentional torts such as assault and battery.

How to think about the timeline

When you’re using DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator, you’ll typically provide a start date—most often the incident date—and then compute the latest filing date within the 3-year window.

Here’s a simplified view of how the baseline works:

What changes the output?

• If the start date is later, the deadline shifts later.
• If the start date is earlier, the deadline shifts earlier.
• If a different accrual date or tolling applies, the effective start point (or the length of time allowed) may change—so the baseline calculation should be treated as a starting estimate.

Filing date vs. “notice” date

As a practical matter, SOL deadlines are usually tied to when the lawsuit is filed, not when someone sends a demand letter or provides notice. So if you’re planning around deadlines, focus on your target filing date and work backward using the calculator.

Key exceptions

RSA 508:4 provides the general 3-year rule; exception handling depends on whether another statute or a tolling/accrual rule changes the effective deadline.

Because your jurisdiction data did not identify an assault-and-battery-specific SOL sub-rule, the most important “exception” category to watch is not a different claim-specific SOL term—it’s whether New Hampshire law applies a different accrual trigger or tolling in your specific circumstances.

Common categories that can change SOL outcomes (not legal advice—just practical issues to screen for) include:

• Different accrual timing: The clock may start on a date other than the incident date if accrual is tied to discovery or another legal event.
• Tolling events: Some legal situations can pause or extend SOL time.
• Statutory carve-outs: Some claim types (or special plaintiff/defendant circumstances) may have rules that displace the general SOL.

Screening checklist you can use before running calculations

Use this checklist to decide whether you need to adjust your DocketMath inputs:

• Start date: What date are you using as the start date (incident date, or an alternative accrual theory)?
• Accrual argument: Is there a credible basis that the claim accrued later than the incident date under a specific rule?
• Tolling conditions: Are there any circumstances that could pause/extend the SOL?
• Claim fit: Are you sure the cause of action is governed by the general/default SOL rather than another statute?
• Time remaining: What filing date are you targeting, and how many days remain under a baseline 3-year calculation?

Statute citation

RSA 508:4 — General statute of limitations for civil actions (3 years).
Based on the jurisdiction data you provided, New Hampshire’s general SOL for civil actions is three years under RSA 508:4.

Source (jurisdiction reference): https://www.thelaw.com/law/new-hampshire-statute-of-limitations-civil-actions.391/?utm_source=openai

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator to convert the RSA 508:4 “3 years” rule into a concrete latest filing deadline.

Tool: /tools/statute-of-limitations

What to enter in DocketMath

Open the calculator here: /tools/statute-of-limitations and enter inputs aligned with the default/general approach tied to RSA 508:4 (since no assault-and-battery-specific sub-rule was identified in your jurisdiction data).

Typical inputs:

• Start date: Usually the incident date (or another date you believe accrual begins under your theory).
• Jurisdiction: **New Hampshire (US-NH)
• Calculation basis: **Default/general (RSA 508:4)

How the output changes

DocketMath will typically compute a latest filing date by adding the 3-year period to the chosen start date (baseline approach).

So:

• Change the start date → the computed deadline moves accordingly.
• If you believe accrual/tolling shifts the effective start point → rerun with the adjusted start date to see how much timing changes (while remembering exceptions are fact- and statute-dependent).

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