Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Termination (common law) in Maryland

6 min read

Published April 8, 2026 • By DocketMath Team

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently — verify all citations with current official sources.

Overview

Maryland’s common-law wrongful termination claims are generally subject to a 3-year statute of limitations under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106. Because no claim-type-specific rule was found for this cause of action, the general default period controls.

In practice, that usually means the filing clock starts when the claim accrues—often the date of termination or the date the discharge becomes legally actionable. It is usually not delayed just because the effects of the firing continue or because the employee is still looking for work.

Note: This page covers the limitations period for the common-law wrongful termination claim in Maryland, not every possible employment claim that may arise from the same facts.

If you are comparing deadlines across multiple claims, keep them separate. A wrongful termination claim can have a different filing window from related claims such as discrimination, retaliation, wage disputes, or contract claims.

Limitation period

Maryland gives you 3 years to file a common-law wrongful termination claim. The governing default statute is Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106.

That 3-year period is the key number to track. For example:

Termination date: June 15, 2024
General deadline: June 15, 2027

If the termination occurred near a leap day, ordinary calendar counting still applies. The practical takeaway is simple: once the clock starts, the deadline is generally the same calendar date three years later.

What the calculator needs

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool uses basic date and claim information to estimate the filing window. For Maryland wrongful termination, the main inputs are:

Termination date
Claim type: common-law wrongful termination
Jurisdiction: Maryland

Those inputs matter because the output changes based on the governing rule. If the date you enter is older than expected, the result may show that the claim is already time-barred. If the date is recent, the result may show how much time remains before the 3-year period expires.

How the output changes

The result is more than just a deadline date. It helps you see:

Time remaining
Whether the deadline has passed
Whether the claim is still inside the 3-year window
Which date the clock appears to run from

That makes it useful for quick screening, intake, or checking whether a draft complaint is still timely.

Key exceptions

Maryland’s general 3-year rule is the starting point, but deadline issues can change when accrual is disputed, multiple claims are involved, or a separate statutory scheme applies. Because no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found for common-law wrongful termination, the default rule remains 3 years under § 5-106 unless another doctrine affects timing.

Common timing issues that can change the analysis

Issue	What it can affect	Practical effect
Accrual date dispute	When the 3-year clock starts	The deadline may move earlier or later depending on the facts
Separate statutory claims	Different filing deadlines	One claim may be timely even if another is not
Continuing harm vs. single act	Whether later effects restart the clock	Ongoing harm usually does not automatically create a new limitations period
Tolling doctrines	Suspension of the running clock	The deadline may be extended in limited situations

Why this matters

A wrongful termination case often involves more than one theory of recovery. The employment action may also support a whistleblower claim, discrimination claim, retaliation claim, breach of contract claim, or wage claim. Each one can have its own limitations rule.

So the right question is not just “Was the employee fired?” It is also:

What exact claim is being brought?
What date did that claim accrue?
Does any statute or doctrine alter the filing period?

Warning: Do not assume that internal appeals, HR complaints, or severance discussions automatically pause the 3-year clock. The limitations period usually keeps running unless a recognized legal rule says otherwise.

Practical checklist

Use this quick checklist when reviewing a Maryland wrongful termination deadline:

If you need a fast estimate, the DocketMath calculator can help you test the deadline against the date you enter. You can open it here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Statute citation

The Maryland statute for the general limitations period is Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106. The general period is 3 years.

Citation snapshot

Item	Maryland rule
Claim type	Common-law wrongful termination
General limitations period	3 years
Statute	Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106
Source	https://codes.findlaw.com/md/courts-and-jud-pro-sect-5-106/?utm_source=openai

Because no claim-type-specific rule was found, this is the controlling default period for the topic covered on this page. That makes the statute citation especially useful when you are documenting a deadline in a memo, demand letter, intake note, or case tracker.

Why the citation matters in practice

When you are tracking deadlines, the citation does three jobs:

Confirms the governing period
Supports your calendar calculation
Helps distinguish the claim from other employment claims

A deadline written without the statute reference is easy to second-guess later. Including the citation next to the date helps avoid confusion during review.

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator helps you turn the Maryland rule into a concrete filing deadline. For wrongful termination in Maryland, enter the date the claim accrued and the tool applies the 3-year period from § 5-106.

What to enter

Use the most legally relevant date available:

Termination date if the claim accrued on discharge
Last day worked if that is the operative date in your records
Accrual date if the wrongful act and termination date differ in the case record

What the result tells you

The calculator can show:

Deadline date
Days left
Whether the claim appears expired
Whether the input date changes the result

That makes it useful for a quick intake screen or a pre-filing deadline check. If the deadline looks close, the safest operational move is to calendar multiple reminders well before the 3-year mark.

Suggested workflow

Enter the claim date.
Confirm the jurisdiction is Maryland.
Select the wrongful termination claim type.
Review the output date.
Compare it against your planned filing date.

A simple deadline calculation can prevent avoidable time-bar issues. If you are building a case timeline, the calculator can also help you spot whether another claim in the same matter has a different limitations period.