## How the limitation period applies

The controlling primary authority for United Kingdom statute of limitations for libel / written defamation actions is **Limitation Act 1980, section 4A**.

> **Limitation Act 1980, section 4A.** The time limit under section 2 of this Act shall not apply to an action for—(a) libel or slander, or (b) slander of title, slander of goods or other malicious falsehood, but no such action shall be brought after the expiration of one year from the date on which the cause of action accrued.

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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

- [Limitation Act 1980, section 4A — Time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58/section/4A)

All sources are official primary law published by `legislation.gov.uk`.

**Corroboration method:** single official primary source: legislation.gov.uk (UK government's official legislation site, .gov.uk). Section 4A is the canonical defamation limitation provision and has been cited in numerous reported judgments without dispute as to the basic 1-year rule.


In the UK, libel claims must be filed within one year. Calculate your exact deadline from your incident date and check tolling exceptions. Free, no signup.

the UK Libel Statute of Limitations (one year)

JURISDICTIONAL SCOPE: Limitation Act 1980 covers ENGLAND AND WALES only. Scotland applies the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 (5-year 'quinquennial prescription' for most personal obligations under s 6; 20-year long negative prescription under s 7). Northern Ireland applies the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (largely mirrors England & Wales but is a separate instrument). Calculator users in Scotland should NOT use these GB.json values. PRIMARY SOURCE legislation.gov.uk fully accessible — all 8 individually-fetched sections verified verbatim. Sections marked 'partial' are confirmed via Contents heading text but had full subsection text trimmed in fetch — to upgrade to fully verified, refetch each section page individually.

5 Time limit for actions founded on simple contract. E+W An action founded on simple contract shall not be brought after the expiration of six years from the date on which the cause of action accrued.

5 Time limit for actions founded on simple contract. An action founded on simple contract shall not be brought after the expiration of six years from the date on which the cause of action accrued.

4A Time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood. E+W The time limit under section 2 of this Act shall not apply to an action for— (a) libel or slander, or (b) slander of title, slander of goods or other malicious falsehood, but no such action shall be brought after the expiration of one year from the date on which the cause of action accrued.

2 Time limit for actions founded on tort. E+W An action founded on tort shall not be brought after the expiration of six years from the date on which the cause of action accrued.

24 Time limit for actions to enforce judgments. E+W (1) An action shall not be brought upon any judgment after the expiration of six years from the date on which the judgment became enforceable. (2) No arrears of interest in respect of any judgment debt shall be recovered after the expiration of six years from the date on which the interest became due.

4A Time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood. The time limit under section 2 of this Act shall not apply to an action for— (a) libel or slander, or (b) slander of title, slander of goods or other malicious falsehood, but no such action shall be brought after the expiration of one year from the date on which the cause of action accrued.

(3) An action to which this section applies shall not be brought after the expiration of the period applicable in accordance with subsection (4) or (5) below. (4) Except where subsection (5) below applies, the period applicable is three years from— (a) the date on which the cause of action accrued; or (b) the date of knowledge (if later) of the person injured. (5) If the person injured dies before the expiration of the period mentioned in subsection (4) above, the period applicable as respects the cause of action surviving for the benefit of his estate by virtue of section 1 of the M1 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 shall be three years from— (a) the date of death; or (b) the date of the personal representative’s knowledge; whichever is the later.

(1) This section shall apply to an action for damages by virtue of any provision of Part I of the M1 Consumer Protection Act 1987. (2) None of the time limits given in the preceding provisions of this Act shall apply to an action to which this section applies. (3) An action to which this section applies shall not be brought after the expiration of the period of ten years from the relevant time, within the meaning of section 4 of the said Act of 1987; and this subsection shall operate to extinguish a right of action.

11A Actions in respect of defective products.
(1) This section shall apply to an action for damages by virtue of any provision of Part I of the Consumer Protection Act 1987. 
(2) None of the time limits given in the preceding provisions of this Act shall apply to an action to which this section applies. 
(3) An action to which this section applies shall not be brought after the expiration of the period of ten years from the relevant time, within the meaning of section 4 of the said Act of 1987; and this subsection shall operate to extinguish a right of action and shall do so whether or not that right of action had accrued, or time under the following provisions of this Act had begun to run, at the end of the said period of ten years. 
(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, an action to which this section applies in which the damages claimed by the plaintiff consist of or include damages in respect of personal injuries to the plaintiff or any other person or loss of or damage to any property, shall not be brought after the expiration of the period of three years from whichever is the later of—  (a) the date on which the cause of action accrued; and  (b) the date of knowledge of the injured person or, in the case of loss of or damage to property, the date of knowledge of the plaintiff or (if earlier) of any person in whom his cause of action was previously vested.

(1) No action shall be brought by any person to recover any land after the expiration of twelve years from the date on which the right of action accrued to him or, if it first accrued to some person through whom he claims, to that person.

8 Time limit for actions on a specialty. E+W (1) An action upon a specialty shall not be brought after the expiration of twelve years from the date on which the cause of action accrued. (2) Subsection (1) above shall not affect any action for which a shorter period of limitation is prescribed by any other provision of this Act.

Subject to subsection (3), (4A) and (4B) below, where in the case of any action for which a period of limitation is prescribed by this Act, either— (a) the action is based upon the fraud of the defendant; or (b) any fact relevant to the plaintiff's right of action has been deliberately concealed from him by the defendant; or (c) the action is for relief from the consequences of a mistake; the period of limitation shall not begin to run until the plaintiff has discovered the fraud, concealment or mistake (as the case may be) or could with reasonable diligence have discovered it.

Statute of limitations for breach of warranty in GB is 6 years under Limitation Act 1980, s 5.

Statute of limitations for interference with business relations tortious interference in GB is 6 years under Limitation Act 1980, s 2.

Statute of limitations for invasion of privacy in GB is 6 years under Limitation Act 1980, s 2.

Statute of limitations for unjust enrichment restitution in GB is 6 years under Limitation Act 1980, s 5.

Limitation Act 1980 s.4A provides a 1-year SOL for defamation actions including libel and slander

Limitation Act 1980 s.2 provides a 6-year SOL for tort actions; false arrest and false imprisonment are trespass torts governed by this general limit, not the 3-year personal-injury period in s.11

Statute of limitations for assault and battery intentional tort in GB is 6 years under Limitation Act 1980, s 2.

Statute of limitations for false arrest false imprisonment in GB is 6 years under Limitation Act 1980, s 2.

a person shall be treated as under a disability while he is an infant, or lacks capacity (within the meaning of the Mental Capacity Act 2005)

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, if on the date when any right of action accrued for which a period of limitation is prescribed by this Act, the person to whom it accrued was under a disability, the action may be brought at any time before the expiration of six years from the date when he ceased to be under a disability or died (whichever first occurred) notwithstanding that the period of limitation has expired.

the UK Libel Statute of Limitations (one year)

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How the limitation period applies

United Kingdom — Statute of Limitations

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