Statute of Limitations for False Arrest / False Imprisonment in Maryland

Overview

In Maryland, claims tied to false arrest or false imprisonment generally follow the state’s general civil statute of limitations rather than a special, claim-specific deadline. DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator uses that baseline rule to help you estimate the filing window.

Because limitations rules are procedural, the key practical question is straightforward:

• When did the allegedly wrongful restraint/arrest end (or when did you know/should have known the facts)?
• How long does Maryland allow you to file a lawsuit after that date?

For Maryland, the general rule is set out in Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106, which provides a 3-year limitations period for many civil actions that do not have their own specific deadline.

Limitation period

Default deadline (general rule)

• Time to file: 3 years
• Legal source: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106
• Where this fits: This is the default period for civil actions unless another Maryland statute sets a different clock for the particular claim type.

The “starting date” (why it matters)

Maryland limitation periods don’t just measure “how long from today.” They measure time from a trigger event—often tied to when the claim accrued. In false arrest/false imprisonment situations, the trigger is commonly associated with the period of restraint and the point at which the restraint ended and the claim became actionable.

In practice, people usually think about these dates:

• Arrest / detention start date (the earliest event)
• Release / termination of detention date (often closer to when the restraint ended)
• Date you discovered key facts (relevant in some accrual contexts)
• Date of official event (e.g., charging decision), though accrual can still turn on when the claim became actionable

Because the “accrual” concept is fact-specific, the calculator can help you run scenarios by using different candidate dates and seeing how the deadline shifts.

Quick scenario: how the deadline moves

Assume the general rule applies:

If you change the assumed accrual date by 30 days, the estimated deadline also shifts by roughly 30 days—a major reason to model dates carefully.

Practical checklist for picking your “start” date

Use this to prepare before you compute the SOL deadline in DocketMath:

Key exceptions

Maryland’s § 5-106 provides the general 3-year period, but civil cases can still involve procedural doctrines that affect whether the clock is shortened, paused, or otherwise impacts the filing deadline.

Below are common categories to check when assessing a limitations problem—use them as a safety review, not as a substitute for legal analysis:

1) Alternate statutes (when a “different clock” applies)

Even though this brief uses the default 3-year period from § 5-106, you should verify whether another Maryland statute provides a specific limitation for the exact claim you intend to plead. Maryland sometimes has claim-specific SOL provisions.

Practical move: If your pleading could be framed under a different statutory cause of action, the applicable limitations period could change.

2) Tolling or “pause” concepts

Certain situations can sometimes toll (pause) or otherwise affect limitations. Examples in many jurisdictions include:

For a precise application, you’d need to match your facts to Maryland’s tolling rules.

3) Accrual disputes (when the claim “started”)

Even when the length is clear (3 years), the start date can be contested. In false arrest/false imprisonment contexts, disputes often focus on:

DocketMath tip: Run the calculator using multiple plausible accrual inputs (e.g., restraint end date vs. notice date) so you can see the range of potential deadlines.

Statute citation

The general civil statute of limitations in Maryland for many actions is:

• Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106

  • General SOL period: 3 years

Because no false arrest/false imprisonment–specific sub-rule was found in this brief, the § 5-106 3-year default is the baseline used for these estimates.

Source reference (Maryland statute text via FindLaw):
https://codes.findlaw.com/md/courts-and-judicial-proceedings/md-code-cts-and-jud-pro-sect-5-106/

Use the calculator

You can estimate the filing deadline using DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool.

Inputs to enter (what to expect)

In the calculator, you’ll typically provide:

• Accrual date (the date you want the SOL clock to start)
• (Optionally) other parameters depending on the tool’s interface

Then DocketMath applies the 3-year period from Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106 to generate an estimated deadline.

How outputs change when inputs change

Because the SOL is tied to the accrual date, changing that date changes the result:

• If your chosen accrual date is earlier, the deadline is earlier
• If your chosen accrual date is later, the deadline is later

To get a practical sense of risk, consider running:

• Scenario A: accrual = restraint end date
• Scenario B: accrual = first notice / known facts date
• Scenario C: accrual = arrest/detention start date (only if that matches your theory)

Then compare the resulting deadlines to identify the most conservative (earliest) date.

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — Tool comparison
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — How-to guide
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — Tool comparison