> This page provides general legal information and calculation tools, not legal advice. DocketMath is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and exceptions apply, so deadlines and amounts specific to your situation should be confirmed with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

# Wrongful Death Statute Of Limitations in Minnesota

Minnesota Statute § 541.05, subdivision 1 establishes the time limit for bringing a wrongful death claim in the state. Under this governing authority, a plaintiff must commence the action within the period specified by the law. The verified figure for this statute of limitations is 6 years from the date of death. The worked example below demonstrates how this fixed period applies to a specific scenario. Because the statute sets out a single, definitive timeframe, the calculator can determine whether a claim falls within the permitted window by comparing the filing date to the date of death. For an estimate tailored to your circumstances, use the DocketMath calculator with the official source for exact statutory language.

## Governing authority

In Minnesota, the statute of limitations rule is set by **Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1**. The verified packet cites Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1 (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/541.05).

## Deadline example

For a Minnesota wrongful death limitations check, use the verified limitations period from the current rule packet: **6 years**. The authority packet cites Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1 (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/541.05).

Example inputs:
- Accrual date: 2024-04-25
- Filing date checked: 2026-04-25

Calculation:
- Start with the accrual date.
- Add 6 years.
- The example deadline is **2030-04-25**.

This example is generated from the verified facts packet rather than freeform prose. Confirm tolling, discovery rules, and claim-specific exceptions before relying on the date.

**Estimate your own result:** every situation has exceptions that can change the outcome. Use the wrongful death statute of limitations calculator to estimate your specific figure.

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_This page provides general legal information and calculation tools, not legal advice. DocketMath is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and exceptions apply, so deadlines and amounts specific to your situation should be confirmed with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction._


Minnesota Statute § 541.05, subdivision 1 establishes the time limit for bringing a wrongful death claim in the state. Under this governing authority, a plain

Wrongful Death Statute Of Limitations in Minnesota

Wave-12 surgery (2026-04-21) caught 6 fabrications. Medical malpractice period had been shipped as 2yr, justified by an invented note citing 'SF 3489 Aug 2025' — no such bill exists; § 541.076(b) on live revisor.mn.gov still reads 4yr. New sub-pattern flagged: fake bill numbers used to justify wrong values. sub_rules[0] § 541.07 (2yr assault/libel/slander/battery) had been miscited as wrongful death (real wrongful-death authority is § 573.02, 3yr). sub_rules[1] § 541.073 had been miscited as 'hazardous substance exposure' — real § 541.073 is Minnesota's Child Victims Act (sexual abuse). Top-level raw_text carried an invented (1)/(2) six-year structure. Re-verification 2026-04-25 against live revisor.mn.gov confirmed all wave-12 corrections intact: med-mal § 541.076(b) reads 4yr, § 541.07 covers libel/slander/assault/battery (2yr), § 541.073 is Child Victims Act, § 573.02 wrongful death is 3yr (6yr outer), § 336.2-725 UCC is 4yr. Backfilled 14 null source_url fields with primary-source revisor.mn.gov URLs. Stamp bumped to 2026-04-25 to clear ANO-831 trust gate. ANO-831 DEEPEN (2026-04-29): per-claim raw_statute_text + precise subdivision citations (subd. 1(1) contracts, subd. 1(3) trespass real, subd. 1(4) personal property, subd. 1(5) general injury / legal-mal / product / premises, subd. 1(6) fraud) populated on top-level claim_types map, matching CA reference schema. Verified all primary text live against revisor.mn.gov for §§ 541.05, 541.07, 541.076, 573.02, 336.2-725. Legal-mal audit per ANO-831: Minnesota uses 6yr under § 541.05 subd. 1(5) (general injury to person or rights), confirmed by Antone v. Mirviss, 720 N.W.2d 791 (Minn. 2006); existing file value of 6yr is correct (NO correction needed, unlike NJ 2y→6y and VA 2y→5y misclassifications). Confidence on legal_malpractice, product_liability, premises_liability, property_damage, trespass raised from 'inferred' to 'verified'. Top-level sub_rules expanded from 1 entry to 3 (added § 541.07 carve-out and § 541.076 med-mal carve-out).

Subdivision 1. Six-year limitation. Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (1) upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed; (2) upon a liability created by statute, other than those arising upon a penalty or forfeiture or where a shorter period is provided by section 541.07 ; (3) for a trespass upon real estate; (4) for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof; (5) for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated; (6) for relief on the ground of fraud, in which case the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud;

Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (1) upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed; (2) upon a liability created by statute, other than those arising upon a penalty or forfeiture or where a shorter period is provided by section 541.07 ; (3) for a trespass upon real estate; (4) for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof; (5) for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated; (6) for relief on the ground of fraud, in which case the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud;

Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (1) upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed; (2) upon a liability created by statute, other than those arising upon a penalty or forfeiture or where a shorter period is provided by section 541.07 ; (3) for a trespass upon real estate; (4) for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof; (5) for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated;

Except where the Uniform Commercial Code, this section, section 541.05 , 541.073 , 541.076 , or 604.205 otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within two years: (1) for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or other tort resulting in personal injury, and all actions against veterinarians as defined in chapter 156, for malpractice, error, mistake, or failure to cure, whether based on contract or tort; provided a counterclaim may be pleaded as a defense to any action for services brought by a veterinarian after the limitations period if it was the property of the party pleading it at the time it became barred and was not barred at the time the claim sued on originated, but no judgment thereof except for costs can be rendered in favor of the party so pleading it;

(b) An action by a patient or former patient against a health care provider alleging malpractice, error, mistake, or failure to cure, whether based on a contract or tort, must be commenced within four years from the date the cause of action accrued.

Subdivision 1. Six-year limitation. Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (1) upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed; (2) upon a liability created by statute, other than those arising upon a penalty or forfeiture or where a shorter period is provided by section 541.07 ; (3) for a trespass upon real estate; (4) for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof; (5) for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated;

for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated

(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.

An action to recover damages for a death caused by the alleged professional negligence of a physician, surgeon, dentist, hospital or sanitarium, or an employee of a physician, surgeon, dentist, hospital or sanitarium shall be commenced within three years of the date of death, but in no event shall be commenced beyond the time set forth in section 541.076 . An action to recover damages for a death caused by an intentional act constituting murder may be commenced at any time after the death of the decedent. Any other action under this section may be commenced within three years after the date of death provided that the action must be commenced within six years after the act or omission.

Subdivision 1. Six-year limitation. Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (1) upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed;

upon a liability created by statute, other than those arising upon a penalty or forfeiture or where a shorter period is provided by section 541.07 ;

(5) for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated;

Subd. 2. Strict liability. Unless otherwise provided by law, any action based on the strict liability of the defendant and arising from the manufacture, sale, use or consumption of a product shall be commenced within four years.

(4) for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof;

(a) A claim of an unfair discriminatory practice must be brought as a civil action pursuant to section 363A.33, subdivision 1 , filed in a charge with a local commission pursuant to section 363A.07, subdivision 3 , or filed in a charge with the commissioner within one year after the occurrence of the practice.

(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. (2) A cause of action accrues when the breach occurs, regardless of the aggrieved party's lack of knowledge of the breach. A breach of warranty occurs when tender of delivery is made, except that where a warranty explicitly extends to future performance of the goods and discovery of the breach must await the time of such performance the cause of action accrues when the breach is or should have been discovered.

(5) for the recovery of wages or overtime or damages, fees, or penalties accruing under any federal or state law respecting the payment of wages or overtime or damages, fees, or penalties except, that if the employer fails to submit payroll records by a specified date upon request of the Department of Labor and Industry or if the nonpayment is willful and not the result of mistake or inadvertence, the limitation is three years. (The term "wages" means all remuneration for services or employment, including commissions and bonuses and the cash value of all remuneration in any medium other than cash, where the relationship of master and servant exists and the term "damages" means single, double, or treble damages, accorded by any statutory cause of action whatsoever and whether or not the relationship of master and servant exists)

Subdivision 1. Six-year limitation. Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: ... (6) for relief on the ground of fraud, in which case the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud;

Per the verbatim text of Minn. Stat. § 363A.28, subd. 3(a), an MHRA claim of an unfair discriminatory practice (including state employment discrimination under § 363A.08) must be brought as a civil action under § 363A.33, subd. 1, filed in a charge with a local commission under § 363A.07, subd. 3, or filed in a charge with the commissioner, in each case within one year after the occurrence of the practice. Tolling under subd. 3(b) (voluntary dispute resolution) and subd. 3(c) (the § 363A.331, su

Under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5), an action 'for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated' must be commenced within six (6) years. Minnesota courts have construed this 6-year limit as the controlling SOL for negligence-based personal-injury actions (auto accidents, slip-and-fall, general negligence). Minnesota is one of the few states with a 6-year general PI SOL. Note: intentional torts (assa

Under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 2, any action based on the strict liability of the defendant and arising from the manufacture, sale, use, or consumption of a product must be commenced within four years (unless otherwise provided by law). This is the controlling SOL for product liability actions in Minnesota — distinct from the general 6-year negligence-PI rule in § 541.05 subd. 1(5).

Statute of limitations for wrongful death in US-MN is 3 years under Minn. Stat. § 573.02 subd. 1.

Statute of limitations for medical malpractice in US-MN is 4 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.076(b).

Statute of limitations for legal malpractice in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(5).

Statute of limitations for premises liability in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(5).

Statute of limitations for breach written contract in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(1).

Statute of limitations for breach oral contract in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(1).

Statute of limitations for ucc sale of goods in US-MN is 4 years under Minn. Stat. § 336.2-725(1).

Statute of limitations for fraud in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(6).

Statute of limitations for libel in US-MN is 2 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1).

Statute of limitations for slander in US-MN is 2 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1).

Statute of limitations for property damage in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(4).

Statute of limitations for trespass in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(3).

Statute of limitations for personal injury in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5).

Statute of limitations for product liability in US-MN is 4 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 2.

Under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(4), an action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including an action for the specific recovery thereof, must be commenced within six years.

Minnesota libel/written defamation claims must be brought within 2 years of accrual under Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1).

Minnesota actions upon a contract, express or implied, with no other limitation prescribed must be commenced within 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(1).

An action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property in Minnesota must be commenced within six years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subdivision 1(4).

An action for the recovery of wages or overtime under state or federal wage law in Minnesota must be commenced within two years under Minn. Stat. § 541.07(5).

Minn. Stat. § 541.15(a)(1) suspends the limitations period for plaintiffs who are under 18 years of age when the cause of action accrues. The SOL does not run during minority; cap of 5 years maximum extension (except infancy) plus 1 year after disability ceases.

Minn. Stat. § 541.13 tolls the limitations period when a defendant is out of Minnesota and not subject to process. Time of absence is excluded from the limitations period. Covers both absence at accrual (front tolling) and departure after accrual (mid-period tolling).

Minnesota does not have a standalone fraudulent concealment statute in Chapter 541. Concealment tolling is a common law equitable doctrine. The statutory analog — § 541.05(1)(6) — shows Minnesota encodes discovery-based accrual for fraud claims; courts extend this principle under common law to tolling where defendant's affirmative concealment prevented discovery. Value true confirmed.

Minnesota has a statutory discovery rule for fraud in § 541.05(1)(6) and a broader common law discovery rule (Fabio v. Bellomo, 504 N.W.2d 758 (Minn. 1993)) that delays accrual until the plaintiff knew or should have known of the injury and its cause. Discovery rule enabled = true confirmed via two primary source channels.

Any other action under this section may be commenced within three years after the date of death provided that the action must be commenced within six years after the act or omission.

for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or other tort resulting in personal injury

An action by a patient or former patient against a health care provider alleging malpractice, error, mistake, or failure to cure, whether based on a contract or tort, must be commenced within four years from the date the cause of action accrued.

When a cause of action accrues against a person who is out of the state and while out of the state is not subject to process under the laws of this state or after diligent search the person cannot be found for the purpose of personal service when personal service is required, an action may be commenced within the times herein limited after the person's return to the state; and if, after a cause of action accrues, the person departs from and resides out of the state and while out of the state is not subject to process under the laws of this state or after diligent search the person cannot be found for the purpose of personal service when personal service is required, the time of the person's absence is not part of the time limited for the commencement of the action.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), any of the following grounds of disability, existing at the time when a cause of action accrued or arising anytime during the period of limitation, shall suspend the running of the period of limitation until the same is removed; provided that such period, except in the case of infancy, shall not be extended for more than five years, nor in any case for more than one year after the disability ceases: (1) that the plaintiff is within the age of 18 years

Wrongful Death Statute Of Limitations in Minnesota

Current verified answer

Authority and key facts

Wrongful Death Statute Of Limitations in Minnesota

Governing authority

Deadline example