## How the limitation period applies

There is no federal statute of limitations specific to claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Federal courts borrow the forum state's law to fill that gap, and longstanding Supreme Court doctrine directs them to use the state's general personal-injury statute of limitations. For US-MA section 1983 civil rights claims SOL (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A), that means the controlling period comes from the state PI statute below, not from any federal source.

## Federal authority for the borrow

Under **42 U.S.C. § 1988(a)**, federal courts apply state law where federal civil-rights statutes are silent or deficient:

> **42 U.S.C. § 1988(a).** The jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters conferred on the district courts by the provisions of titles 13, 24, and 70 of the Revised Statutes for the protection of all persons in the United States in their civil rights, and for their vindication, shall be exercised and enforced in conformity with the laws of the United States, so far as such laws are suitable to carry the same into effect;

## Borrowed state limitation period

The forum state's general personal-injury statute of limitations is **Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A**:

> **Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A.** Except as otherwise provided, actions of tort, actions of contract to recover for personal injuries, and actions of replevin, shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues.

## 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

- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A — Tort, contract to recover for personal injuries, and replevin actions](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1988(a) — Proceedings in vindication of civil rights](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1988&num=0&edition=prelim)

All sources are official primary law published by `malegislature.gov`, `uscode.house.gov`.

**Corroboration method:** government_primary_source_direct_fetch.


A Section 1983 claim lets people sue state or local actors for violations of federal rights. In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations (SOL) for a Se...

Statute of Limitations for Section 1983 Civil Rights Claims in Massachusetts

MA SoL DEEPENED against malegislature.gov primary sources on 2026-04-27 (ANO-831 deepen sweep). Per-claim raw_statute_text populated verbatim; verification blocks added matching CA-reference depth.

Actions of contract, other than those to recover for personal injuries, founded upon contracts or liabilities, express or implied ... shall, except as otherwise provided, be commenced only within six years next after the cause of action accrues.

Except as otherwise provided, actions of tort, actions of contract to recover for personal injuries, and actions of replevin, shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues.

A civil action shall not be instituted against a public employer on a claim for damages under this chapter unless the claimant shall have first presented his claim in writing to the executive officer of such public employer within two years after the date upon which the cause of action arose.

Actions of contract or tort for malpractice, error or mistake against attorneys, certified public accountants and public accountants ... shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues.

actions for assault and battery, false imprisonment, slander, libel ... shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues.

Actions of contract or tort for malpractice, error or mistake against physicians, surgeons, dentists, optometrists, hospitals and sanitoria shall be commenced only within three years after the cause of action accrues, but in no event shall any such action be commenced more than seven years after occurrence of the act or omission which is the alleged cause of the injury upon which such action is based except where the action is based upon the leaving of a foreign object in the body.

An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four years after the cause of action has accrued.

An action to recover damages under this section shall be commenced within three years from the date of death, or within three years from the date when the deceased's executor or administrator knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have known of the factual basis for a cause of action, or within such time thereafter as is provided by section four, four B, nine or ten of chapter two hundred and sixty.

Actions of contract, other than those to recover for personal injuries, founded upon contracts or liabilities, express or implied, except actions limited by section one or actions upon judgments or decrees of courts of record of the United States or of this or of any other state of the United States, shall, except as otherwise provided, be commenced only within six years next after the cause of action accrues.

A judgment or decree of a court of record of the United States or of any state thereof shall be presumed to be paid and satisfied at the expiration of twenty years after it was rendered.

An indictment for murder may be found at any time after the death of the person alleged to have been murdered. An indictment or complaint for an offense set forth in section 13B, 13B1/2, 13B3/4, 13F, 13L, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 23, 23A, 23B, 24B or subsection (b) of section 50 of chapter 265, for conspiracy to commit any of these offenses, as an accessory thereto, or any 1 or more of them may be found and filed at any time after the date of the commission of such offense; but any indictment or complaint found and filed more than 27 years after the date of commission of such offense shall be supported by independent evidence that corroborates the victim's allegation. Such independent evidence shall be admissible during trial and shall not consist exclusively of the opinions of mental health professionals. An indictment for an offense set forth in sections 22, 24 or subsection (a) of section 50 of chapter 265, or for conspiracy to commit either of these offenses or as an accessory thereto or any 1 or more of them may be found and filed within 15 years of the date of commission of such offense. An indictment for an offense set forth in clause (iii) of subsection (b) of section 13A, sections 13M, 17, 18, 19 and 21 of said chapter 265 or section 17 of chapter 272, for conspiracy to commit any such crime, as an accessory thereto, or any 1 or more of them may be found and filed within 10 years after the date of commission of such offense. An indictment for any other crime shall be found and filed within 6 years after such crime has been committed.

Action of tort for damages arising out of any deficiency or neglect in the design, planning, construction or general administration of an improvement to real property, other than that of a public agency as defined in section thirty-nine A of chapter seven shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues; provided, however, that in no event shall such actions be commenced more than six years after the earlier of the dates of: (1) the opening of the improvement to use; or (2) substantial completion of the improvement and the taking of possession for occupancy by the owner.

(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

Actions of contract or tort for malpractice, error or mistake against attorneys, certified public accountants and public accountants, actions for assault and battery, false imprisonment, slander, libel ... shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues.

A power of sale in any mortgage of real estate shall not be exercised and an entry shall not be made nor possession taken nor proceeding begun for foreclosure of any such mortgage after the expiration of, in the case of a mortgage in which no term of the mortgage is stated, 35 years from the recording of the mortgage or, in the case of a mortgage in which the term or maturity date of the mortgage is stated, 5 years from the expiration of the term or from the maturity date, unless an extension of the mortgage, or an acknowledgment or affidavit that the mortgage is not satisfied, is recorded before the expiration of such period.

Any person claiming to be aggrieved by a practice made unlawful under this chapter or under chapter one hundred and fifty-one C, or by any other unlawful practice within the jurisdiction of the commission, may, at the expiration of ninety days after the filing of a complaint with the commission, or sooner if a commissioner assents in writing, but not later than three years after the alleged unlawful practice occurred, bring a civil action for damages or injunctive relief or both in the superior or probate court for the county in which the alleged unlawful practice occurred or in the housing court within whose district the alleged unlawful practice occurred if the unlawful practice involves residential housing.

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.

An employee claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of sections 33E, 52E, 148, 148A, 148B, 148C, 150C, 152, 152A, 159C or 190 or section 19 of chapter 151 may, 90 days after the filing of a complaint with the attorney general, or sooner if the attorney general assents in writing, and within 3 years after the violation, institute and prosecute in his own name and on his own behalf, or for himself and for others similarly situated, a civil action for injunctive relief, for any damages incurred, and for any lost wages and other benefits; provided, however, that the 3 year limitation period shall be tolled from the date that the employee or a similarly situated employee files a complaint with the attorney general alleging a violation of any of these sections until the date that the attorney general issues a letter authorizing a private right of action or the date that an enforcement action by the attorney general becomes final.

Any employee or former employee aggrieved of a violation of this section may, within two years, institute a civil action in the superior court. Any party to said action shall be entitled to claim a jury trial. All remedies available in common law tort actions shall be available to prevailing plaintiffs. These remedies are in addition to any legal or equitable relief provided herein. The court may: (1) issue temporary restraining orders or preliminary or permanent injunctions to restrain continued violation of this section; (2) reinstate the employee to the same position held before the retaliatory action, or to an equivalent position; (3) reinstate full fringe benefits and seniority rights to the employee; (4) compensate the employee for three times the lost wages, benefits and other remuneration, and interest thereon; and (5) order payment by the employer or public utility employer of reasonable costs, and attorneys' fees.

Massachusetts tort actions (including personal-injury negligence) must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, except as otherwise provided by statute. This paraphrase points back to the verbatim text above.

Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260 § 2, actions of contract founded upon contracts or liabilities (express or implied) must be commenced within six years after the cause of action accrues. Excludes PI-related contract actions, actions limited by § 1, and actions upon judgments. Controls promissory notes and other contract debts in Massachusetts.

Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260 § 2B, a tort action for damages arising from deficiency or neglect in the design, planning, construction, or general administration of an improvement to real property must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, with an outer 6-year statute of repose measured from the earlier of (1) opening of the improvement to use or (2) substantial completion + taking possession by the owner.

Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149 § 150, an employee aggrieved by violations of the wage statutes (§§ 148, 148A, 148B, 148C, 150C, 152, 152A, 159C, 190, ch. 151 § 19) must bring civil action within 3 years after the violation. The 3-year period tolls during AG complaint pendency. Private right requires either 90-day post-complaint or AG assent.

Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260 § 33, foreclosure proceedings (judicial or by power of sale) may not be initiated after (a) 35 years from recording if mortgage states no term, OR (b) 5 years from the expiration of the term or maturity date if stated. Either period can be extended by recording an extension/acknowledgment/affidavit before expiration. After expiration, the mortgage is automatically discharged of record.

Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229 § 2, a wrongful-death action must be commenced within 3 years from the date of death, OR within 3 years from when the deceased's executor or administrator knew (or with reasonable diligence should have known) of the factual basis for the cause of action — whichever later. Additional tolling under chapter 260 §§ 4, 4B, 9, or 10 may apply.

Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106 § 2-725(1), an action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four years after the cause of action accrued. Parties may reduce to 1 year minimum by original agreement.

In Massachusetts, actions on contracts — including debt on a promissory note, which is an express written contract — must be commenced within six years after the cause of action accrues. The accrual date is typically the date of default or breach.

Any employee or former employee aggrieved of a violation of M.G.L. c. 149, § 185 may, within two years, institute a civil action in the superior court. No prior administrative filing or right-to-sue letter is required. A written notice to a supervisor is required before filing (§ 185(c)(1)), but this is a non-jurisdictional waivable affirmative defense. The two-year window is the direct civil action limitation period.

In Massachusetts, a prosecution for any misdemeanor must be commenced within 6 years after the commission of the offense under M.G.L. c. 277, § 63. The statute provides a catchall period of 6 years for 'any other crime' not specifically enumerated (murder, certain sex offenses, rape/assault, or specified violent crimes). Misdemeanors are not enumerated in the longer-period clauses and therefore fall under the 6-year catchall. Massachusetts does not use 'class A gross misdemeanor' terminology — t

Under Massachusetts law, the continuing-violation doctrine applies most frequently in employment discrimination and hostile work environment claims (G.L. c. 151B), but the general anchor limitations period for personal injury and tort claims is 3 years under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A. The Massachusetts SJC confirmed in Cuddyer v. Stop & Shop, 434 Mass. 521 (2001) that the continuing violation doctrine extends the limitations period so that it runs from the last act in the continuing series of unlawful

Statute of limitations for personal injury in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A.

Statute of limitations for medical malpractice in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4.

Statute of limitations for legal malpractice in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4.

Statute of limitations for product liability in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A.

Statute of limitations for premises liability in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A.

Statute of limitations for breach written contract in US-MA is 6 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2.

Statute of limitations for breach oral contract in US-MA is 6 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2.

Statute of limitations for ucc sale of goods in US-MA is 4 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106 § 2-725(1).

Statute of limitations for fraud in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A.

Statute of limitations for libel in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4.

Statute of limitations for slander in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4.

Statute of limitations for property damage in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A.

Statute of limitations for trespass in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A.

Statute of limitations for debt on a promissory note in US-MA is 6 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260 § 2.

Statute of limitations for wage and hour overtime state in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149 § 150.

Statute of limitations for mortgage foreclosure in US-MA is 35 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260 § 33.

Statute of limitations for wrongful death in US-MA is 3 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229 § 2.

Statute of limitations for government tort claim in US-MA is 2 years under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 258, § 4.

Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, actions of tort — which include tortious interference with business or contractual relations — must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues.

Massachusetts sets a 3-year statute of limitations for common law wrongful termination claims under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A. Because wrongful termination in violation of public policy is treated as a tort in Massachusetts, the 3-year tort limitations period controls. The clock begins on the date of the wrongful termination.

Massachusetts General Laws ch. 260, § 4 sets a 3-year statute of limitations for slander (spoken defamation) and libel actions. The statute explicitly lists 'slander, libel' among the enumerated actions that shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues. The 3-year period begins on the date the defamatory statement was published or spoken.

Section 1983 has no federal limitations period, so it borrows the forum state's general personal-injury statute; in Massachusetts that is the 3-year tort period under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A.

An action on an oral (unwritten) contract is governed by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2, which sets a 6 years limitations period for actions on oral contracts.

FLSA claims are governed by federal law uniformly in Massachusetts: under 29 U.S.C. § 255(a), an action for unpaid minimum wages or overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act must be commenced within two (2) years after the cause of action accrued, or within three (3) years for a willful violation.

A civil action by an adult victim of rape or sexual assault in Massachusetts is a tort action and must be commenced within 3 years after the cause of action accrues.

A Massachusetts child-support order operates as a judgment for overdue amounts; the judgment is presumed satisfied 20 years after rendition, making 20 years the effective enforcement window.

Actions of contract or tort for malpractice, error or mistake against attorneys, certified public accountants and public accountants, actions for assault and battery, false imprisonment, slander, libel, actions against sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables or assignees in insolvency for the taking or conversion of personal property, actions of tort for injuries to the person against counties, cities and towns, and actions of contract or tort for malpractice, error or mistake against hairdressers, operators and shops registered under sections eighty-seven T to eighty-seven JJ, inclusive of chapter one hundred and twelve, actions of tort for bodily injuries or for death the payment of judgments in which is required to be secured by chapter ninety and also actions of tort for bodily injuries or for death or for damage to property against officers and employees of the commonwealth, and of any county, city or town, arising out of the operation of motor or other vehicles owned by the commonwealth, including those under the control of said commission, or by any such county, city or town, suits by judgment creditors in such actions of tort under section one hundred and thirteen of chapter one hundred and seventy-five and clause (9) of section three of chapter two hundred and fourteen and suits on motor vehicle liability bonds under section thirty-four G of said chapter ninety shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues.

Actions arising on account of violations of any law intended for the protection of consumers, including but not limited to chapter ninety-three A, and actions brought under section 5A of chapter 260 shall be commenced only within four years next after the cause of action accrues.

If the person entitled thereto is a minor, or is incapacitated by reason of mental illness when a right to bring an action first accrues, the action may be commenced within the time hereinbefore limited after the disability is removed.

If, when a cause of action hereinbefore mentioned accrues against a person, he resides out of the commonwealth, the action may be commenced within the time herein limited after he comes into the commonwealth. If, after a cause of action has accrued against a person, he resides out of the commonwealth, the time of such residence shall be excluded in determining the time limited for the commencement of the action.

If a person liable to a personal action fraudulently conceals the cause of such action from the knowledge of the person entitled to bring it, the period prior to the discovery of his cause of action by the person so entitled shall be excluded in determining the time limited for the commencement of the action.

An action for the recovery of land shall be commenced, or an entry made thereon, only within twenty years after the right of action or of entry first accrued, or within twenty years after the demandant or the person under whom he claims was seized or possessed of the premises, except as hereinafter provided.

(1) An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four years after the cause of action has accrued. (2) A cause of action accrues when the breach occurs, regardless of the aggrieved party's lack of knowledge of the breach.

actions of tort, actions of contract to recover for personal injuries, and actions of replevin, shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues

Statute of Limitations for Section 1983 Civil Rights Claims in Massachusetts

Current verified answer

Authority and key facts

How the limitation period applies

Federal authority for the borrow

Borrowed state limitation period

Use the calculator

Sources