## How the limitation period applies

The controlling primary authority for AU written contract SOL (Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 14(1)(a)) — 6 years is **s 14(1)(a)**.

> **s 14(1)(a).** An action on any of the following causes of action is not maintainable if brought after the expiration of a limitation period of six years running from the date on which the cause of action first accrues to the plaintiff or to a person through whom the plaintiff claims— (a) a cause of action founded on contract (including quasi contract) not being a cause of action founded on a deed

## 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

- [s 14(1)(a) — Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 14 — General 6-year limitation period](https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1969-031#sec.14)

All sources are official primary law published by `www.legislation.nsw.gov.au`.

**Corroboration method:** spa_subagent_dual_fetch.


In Australia, claims based on a written contract are generally governed by a limitation period that caps the time you have to start court proceedings. The...

Statute of Limitations for Written Contract in Australia

FEDERATION STRUCTURE: Australia has NO national civil-limitations Act. Each state/territory has its own. NSW Limitation Act 1969 used as representative because NSW has the largest population and litigation volume. Other state acts: VIC Limitation of Actions Act 1958; QLD Limitation of Actions Act 1974; WA Limitation Act 2005; SA Limitation of Actions Act 1936; TAS Limitation Act 1974; ACT Limitation Act 1985; NT Limitation Act 1981. PERIODS DIFFER ACROSS STATES — calculator users in non-NSW states should consult their local Limitation Act. Primary source legislation.nsw.gov.au returned 403 (Cloudflare challenge); fell back to AustLII mirror via Wayback Machine snapshot 2024-10-30. Sections retrieved: 14 (general 6yr), 14B (defamation 1yr), 16 (deed 12yr), 17 (judgment 12yr), 27 (recovery of land 12yr), 50C (personal injury 3yr+12yr long-stop).

An action on any of the following causes of action is not maintainable if brought after the expiration of a limitation period of six years running from the date on which the cause of action first accrues to the plaintiff or to a person through whom the plaintiff claims— (a) a cause of action founded on contract (including quasi contract) not being a cause of action founded on a deed

An action on any of the following causes of action is not maintainable if brought after the expiration of a limitation period of six years running from the date on which the cause of action first accrues to the plaintiff ... (a) a cause of action founded on contract (including quasi contract) not being a cause of action founded on a deed

An action on a cause of action founded on a deed is not maintainable if brought after the expiration of a limitation period of twelve years running from the date on which the cause of action first accrues to the plaintiff or to a person through whom the plaintiff claims.

An action on a cause of action for defamation is not maintainable if brought after the end of a limitation period of 1 year running from the date of the publication of the matter complained of.

An action on a cause of action on a judgment is not maintainable if brought after the expiration of a limitation period of twelve years running from the date on which the judgment first becomes enforceable by the plaintiff or by a person through whom the plaintiff claims.

An action on a cause of action to which this Division applies is not maintainable if brought after the expiration of a limitation period of whichever of the following periods is the first to expire-- (a) the "3 year post discoverability limitation period", which is the period of 3 years running from and including the date on which the cause of action is discoverable by the plaintiff, (b) the "12 year long-stop limitation period", which is the period of 12 years running from the time of the act or omission alleged to have resulted in the injury or death with which the claim is concerned.

Subject to subsection (3) an action on a cause of action to recover land is not maintainable by a person other than the Crown if brought after the expiration of a limitation period of twelve years running from the date on which the cause of action first accrues to the plaintiff or to a person through whom the plaintiff claims.

(b) a cause of action founded on tort, including a cause of action for damages for breach of statutory duty

An action on any of the following causes of action is not maintainable if brought after the expiration of a limitation period of six years running from the date on which the cause of action first accrues to the plaintiff or to a person through whom the plaintiff claims-- (a) a cause of action founded on contract (including quasi contract) not being a cause of action founded on a deed, (b) a cause of action founded on tort, including a cause of action for damages for breach of statutory duty, (c) a cause of action to enforce a recognizance, (d) a cause of action to recover money recoverable by virtue of an enactment, other than a penalty or forfeiture or sum by way of penalty or forfeiture.

Australia's representative limitation period for written contract is 6 years under New South Wales Limitation Act 1969, s 14(1)(a). All Australian states have analogous 6-year limitation periods for simple contract actions.