## How the limitation period applies

The controlling primary authority for Kansas statute of limitations for libel (written defamation) is **K.S.A. § 60-514(a)**.

> **K.S.A. § 60-514(a).** 60-514. Actions limited to one year. The following actions shall be brought within one year: (a) An action for libel or slander.

## Use the calculator

DocketMath's statute-of-limitations tool can model these timelines once you identify the controlling claim type and accrual date. Use the source panel for the verified primary-source citations.

[Open the Statute of Limitations calculator](/tools/statute-of-limitations)

## Sources

- [K.S.A. § 60-514(a) — Actions limited to one year.](https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/statute/060_000_0000_chapter/060_005_0000_article/060_005_0014_section/060_005_0014_k/)

All sources are official primary law published by `www.kslegislature.gov`.

**Corroboration method:** government_primary_source_direct_fetch.


Statute of Limitations for Libel (written defamation) in Kansas.

Statute of Limitations for Libel (written defamation) in Kansas

All 14 claim_types now have verbatim raw_statute_text and primary ksrevisor.gov source_url. Three audits (legal_malpractice, trespass, property_damage) completed; trespass and property_damage citations corrected from generic (a)(4) to specific (a)(1) and (a)(2); legal_malpractice confidence upgraded from inferred to verified.

The following actions shall be brought within three (3) years: (1) All actions upon contracts, obligations or liabilities expressed or implied but not in writing. (2) An action upon a liability created by a statute other than a penalty or forfeiture.

The following actions shall be brought within five (5) years: (1) An action upon any agreement, contract or promise in writing.

(a) The following actions shall be brought within two years: ... (3) An action for relief on the ground of fraud, but the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the fraud is discovered.

(a) The following actions shall be brought within two years: ... (4) An action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not herein enumerated.

The following actions shall be brought within one year: (a) An action for libel or slander.

(a) The following actions shall be brought within two years: ... (7) An action arising out of the rendering of or failure to render professional services by a health care provider, not arising on contract. ... (c) A cause of action arising out of the rendering of or the failure to render professional services by a health care provider shall be deemed to have accrued at the time of the occurrence of the act giving rise to the cause of action, unless the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable to the injured party, but in no event shall such an action be commenced more than four years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action.

(a) The following actions shall be brought within two years: ... (2) An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof.

(a) The following actions shall be brought within two years: (1) An action for trespass upon real property.

(1) An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four years after the cause of action has accrued. By the original agreement the parties may reduce the period of limitation to not less than one year but may not extend it.

(a) The following actions shall be brought within two years: ... (5) An action for wrongful death.

(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), the causes of action listed in subsection (a) shall not be deemed to have accrued until the act giving rise to the cause of action first causes substantial injury, or, if the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable to the injured party, but in no event shall an action be commenced more than 10 years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action. (c) A cause of action arising out of the rendering of or the failure to render professional services by a health care provider shall be deemed to have accrued at the time of the occurrence of the act giving rise to the cause of action, unless the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable to the injured party, but in no event shall such an action be commenced more than four years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action.

60-511. Actions limited to five years. The following actions shall be brought within five (5) years: (1) An action upon any agreement, contract or promise in writing.

(2) An action brought on any covenant of seizin contained in any deed of conveyance of land.

(3) An action brought on a covenant of warranty contained in any deed of conveyance of land, after there shall have been a final decision against the title of the covenantor in such deed.

(4) An action upon the official bond or undertaking of an executor, administrator, conservator, sheriff, or any other officer, or upon the bond or undertaking given in attachment, injunction, arrest, or in any case required by statute.

(5) An action for relief, other than the recovery of real property not provided for in this article.

History: L. 1963, ch. 303, 60-511; L. 1965, ch. 354, § 12; January 1, 1966.

(a) No action for recovery of damages for an injury or illness suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse shall be commenced more than 13 years after the date the victim attains 18 years of age or more than three years after the date of a criminal conviction for a crime described in subsection (b) related to such childhood sexual abuse, whichever occurs later.

60-523. Limitations on actions for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse. (a) No action for recovery of damages for an injury or illness suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse shall be commenced more than 13 years after the date the victim attains 18 years of age or more than three years after the date of a criminal conviction for a crime described in subsection (b) related to such childhood sexual abuse, whichever occurs later.

(b) As used in this section:

(1) "Injury or illness" includes psychological injury or illness, whether or not accompanied by physical injury or illness.

(2) "Childhood sexual abuse" means any act committed against the person that occurred when the person was under the age of 18 years and that would have been a violation of any of the following:

(A) Rape as defined in K.S.A. 21-3502, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5503, and amendments thereto;

(B) Indecent liberties with a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3503, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5506(a), and amendments thereto;

(C) aggravated indecent liberties with a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3504, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5506(b), and amendments thereto;

(D) criminal sodomy as defined in K.S.A. 21-3505(a)(2) and (a)(3), prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5504(a)(3) and (a)(4), and amendments thereto;

(E) aggravated criminal sodomy as defined in K.S.A. 21-3506, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5504(b), and amendments thereto;

(F) enticement of a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3509, prior to its repeal;

(G) indecent solicitation of a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3510, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5508(a), and amendments thereto;

(H) aggravated indecent solicitation of a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3511, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5508(b), and amendments thereto;

(I) sexual exploitation of a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-3516, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5510, and amendments thereto;

(J) aggravated sexual battery as defined in K.S.A. 21-3518, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5505(b), and amendments thereto;

(K) aggravated incest as defined in K.S.A. 21-3603, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5604(b), and amendments thereto;

(L) aggravated human trafficking as defined in K.S.A. 21-3447, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5426(b), and amendments thereto, if committed in whole or in part for the purpose of the sexual gratification of the defendant or another;

(M) internet trading in child pornography or aggravated internet trading in child pornography as defined in K.S.A. 21-5514, and amendments thereto;

(N) commercial sexual exploitation of a child as defined in K.S.A. 21-6422, and amendments thereto; or

(O) any prior laws of this state of similar effect at the time the act was committed.

(c) This section shall be applicable to any action commenced on or after July 1, 1992, including any action that would be barred by application of the period of limitation applicable prior to July 1, 1992.

History: L. 1992, ch. 307, § 1; L. 2011, ch. 30, § 216; L. 2023, ch. 28, § 3; July 1.

60-514. Actions limited to one year. The following actions shall be brought within one year:

(a) An action for libel or slander.

(b) An action for assault, battery, malicious prosecution, or false imprisonment.

(c) An action upon statutory penalty or forfeiture.

(d) An action brought pursuant to K.S.A. 43-173. Such action shall be brought within one year from the date of discharge or threat of discharge from employment.

History: L. 1963, ch. 303, 60-514; L. 1993, ch. 44, § 2; July 1.

(a) if the cause of action accrues on or after May 14, 1947-may be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued, and every such action shall be forever barred unless commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued, except that a cause of action arising out of a willful violation may be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrued;

(b) A tort claim against the United States shall be forever barred unless it is presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency within two years after such claim accrues or unless action is begun within six months after the date of mailing, by certified or registered mail, of notice of final denial of the claim by the agency to which it was presented.

The following actions shall be brought within two years: (1) An action for trespass upon real property. (2) An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof. (3) An action for relief on the ground of fraud, but the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the fraud is discovered. (4) An action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not herein enumerated.

60-513. Actions limited to two years. (a) The following actions shall be brought within two years: (1) An action for trespass upon real property. (2) An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof. (3) An action for relief on the ground of fraud, but the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the fraud is discovered. (4) An action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not herein enumerated. (5) An action for wrongful death. (6) An action to recover for an ionizing radiation injury as provided in K.S.A. 60-513a, 60-513b and 60-513c, and amendments thereto. (7) An action arising out of the rendering of or failure to render professional services by a health care provider, not arising on contract. (b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), the causes of action listed in subsection (a) shall not be deemed to have accrued until the act giving rise to the cause of action first causes substantial injury, or, if the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable to the injured party, but in no event shall an action be commenced more than 10 years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action.

(a) The following actions shall be brought within two years:

(4) An action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not herein enumerated.

(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), the causes of action listed in subsection (a) shall not be deemed to have accrued until the act giving rise to the cause of action first causes substantial injury, or, if the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable to the injured party, but in no event shall an action be commenced more than 10 years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action.

(a) The following actions shall be brought within two years:

(1) An action for trespass upon real property.

(2) An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof.

(3) An action for relief on the ground of fraud, but the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the fraud is discovered.

(4) An action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not herein enumerated.

(5) An action for wrongful death.

(6) An action to recover for an ionizing radiation injury as provided in K.S.A. 60-513a, 60-513b and 60-513c, and amendments thereto.

(7) An action arising out of the rendering of or failure to render professional services by a health care provider, not arising on contract.

(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), the causes of action listed in subsection (a) shall not be deemed to have accrued until the act giving rise to the cause of action first causes substantial injury, or, if the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable to the injured party, but in no event shall an action be commenced more than 10 years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action.

(c) A cause of action arising out of the rendering of or the failure to render professional services by a health care provider shall be deemed to have accrued at the time of the occurrence of the act giving rise to the cause of action, unless the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable to the injured party, but in no event shall such an action be commenced more than four years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action.

(d) A negligence cause of action by a corporation or association against an officer or director of the corporation or association shall not be deemed to have accrued until the act giving rise to the cause of action first causes substantial injury, or, if the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable to the injured party, but in no event shall such an action be commenced more than five years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action. All other causes of action by a corporation or association against an officer or director of the corporation or association shall not be deemed to have accrued until the act giving rise to the cause of action first causes substantial injury and there exists a disinterested majority of nonculpable directors of the corporation or association, or, if the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable and there exists a disinterested majority of nonculpable directors of the corporation or association, but in no event shall such an action be commenced more than 10 years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action. For purposes of this subsection, the term "negligence cause of action" shall not include a cause of action seeking monetary damages for any breach of the officer's or director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or association, for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, for liability under K.S.A. 17-5812, 17-6410, 17-6423, 17-6424 or 17-6603 and amendments thereto, or for any transaction from which the officer or director derived an improper personal benefit.

(e) The provisions of this section as it was constituted prior to July 1, 1996, shall continue in force and effect for a period of two years from that date with respect to any act giving rise to a cause of action occurring prior to that date.

Actions limited to two years. (a) The following actions shall be brought within two years: (1) An action for trespass upon real property. (2) An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof. (3) An action for relief on the ground of fraud, but the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the fraud is discovered. (4) An action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not herein enumerated. (5) An action for wrongful death. (6) An action to recover for an ionizing radiation injury as provided in K.S.A. 60-513a, 60-513b and 60-513c, and amendments thereto. (7) An action arising out of the rendering of or failure to render professional services by a health care provider, not arising on contract. (b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), the causes of action listed in subsection (a) shall not be deemed to have accrued until the act giving rise to the cause of action first causes substantial injury, or, if the fact of injury is not reasonably ascertainable until some time after the initial act, then the period of limitation shall not commence until the fact of injury becomes reasonably ascertainable to the injured party, but in no event shall an action be commenced more than 10 years beyond the time of the act giving rise to the cause of action.

The limitations within which actions must be brought are as follows: (1) Within two years, an action for the recovery of a penalty or forfeiture, or an action upon a statute for a penalty or forfeiture; (2) within three years, an action upon a contract, obligation or liability, express or implied; (3) within five years, an action for the recovery of personal property, or for the recovery of damages for the taking or detaining of personal property; (4) within five years, an action for an injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract; (5) within ten years, an action upon any written contract; (6) within one year, an action for libel, slander, assault, battery, or other tort; and (7) within three years, an action upon a judgment.

In Kansas, an action upon any agreement, contract, or promise in writing must be brought within five years, per K.S.A. 60-511(1). The verbatim statutory text controls; this paraphrase points back to subdivision (1) of the verbatim quote captured from the Kansas Legislature's official site.

Under K.S.A. 60-512(1), actions upon contracts, obligations, or liabilities expressed or implied but not in writing — which includes oral contracts — must be brought within three years.

In Kansas, an action for libel or slander (defamation) must be brought within one year, per K.S.A. 60-514(a). The verbatim statutory text controls; this paraphrase points back to subsection (a) of the verbatim quote captured from the Kansas Legislature's official site.

Under K.S.A. 60-513(a), personal-injury tort actions in Kansas must be brought within two years. General personal-injury and negligence claims are captured by (a)(4) ('An action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not herein enumerated'). Accrual is governed by the discovery rule in (a)(3) for fraud and in (b) for the other enumerated causes of action, subject to a 10-year statute of repose (or, for health-care professional services under (a)(7), a 4-year repose per

A civil action for damages from childhood sexual abuse in Kansas must be commenced within 13 years after the victim turns 18, or within 3 years after a criminal conviction for a qualifying predicate offense related to the abuse, whichever is later. 'Injury or illness' includes psychological injury, and 'childhood sexual abuse' is defined by reference to fifteen enumerated Kansas criminal statutes (current and pre-repeal). The section applies to any action commenced on or after July 1, 1992, incl

Kansas legal-malpractice claims are routed under K.S.A. 60-513(a)(4), the two-year residual tort statute, with accrual governed by subsection (b)'s substantial-injury / reasonably-ascertainable rule. Kansas case law characterizes attorney-negligence malpractice as tort, not contract, when the claim rests on a duty imposed by law rather than specific contract terms.

Under 29 U.S.C. § 255(a), an action enforcing an FLSA cause of action for unpaid minimum wages, unpaid overtime compensation, or liquidated damages generally must be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued; a cause of action arising out of a willful violation may be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrued.

In Kansas, an action for libel (written defamation) must be brought within one year under K.S.A. § 60-514(a).

Statute of limitations for personal injury in US-KS is 2 years under K.S.A. 60-513.

Statute of limitations for wrongful death in US-KS is 2 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(5).

Statute of limitations for medical malpractice in US-KS is 2 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(7), (c).

Statute of limitations for legal malpractice in US-KS is 2 years under K.S.A. 60-513(a)(4) and (b).

Statute of limitations for product liability in US-KS is 2 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(4).

Statute of limitations for premises liability in US-KS is 2 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(4).

Statute of limitations for breach oral contract in US-KS is 3 years under K.S.A. 60-512.

Statute of limitations for ucc sale of goods in US-KS is 4 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 84-2-725(1).

Statute of limitations for fraud in US-KS is 2 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(3).

Statute of limitations for libel in US-KS is 1 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-514(a).

Statute of limitations for slander in US-KS is 1 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-514(a).

Statute of limitations for property damage in US-KS is 2 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(2).

Statute of limitations for trespass in US-KS is 2 years under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(1).

Statute of limitations for defamation in US-KS is 1 years under K.S.A. 60-514.

Statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse civil in US-KS is 13 years under K.S.A. 60-523.

Statute of limitations for flsa claims federal wage hour in US-KS is 2 years under 29 U.S.C. § 255(a).

Statute of limitations for breach written contract in US-KS is 5 years under K.S.A. 60-511.

A promissory note is a written promise to pay; under K.S.A. 60-511(1), an action upon any agreement, contract or promise in writing must be brought within five years.

In Kansas, claims for intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress fall under the two-year limitations period for injury to the rights of another not arising on contract, K.S.A. 60-513(a)(4).

An FTCA tort claim must be presented in writing to the appropriate federal agency within 2 years after the claim accrues.

Kansas actions upon any agreement, contract or promise in writing must be brought within 5 years under K.S.A. 60-511(1).

Kansas childhood sexual abuse civil claims must be brought within 13 years after the victim turns 18, or 3 years after a related criminal conviction, whichever is later, under K.S.A. 60-523.

If the cause of action is not discovered, the action may be commenced within one year after the discovery of the injury. The statute of limitations shall be tolled for any person who is not in the state at the time the cause of action accrues.