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

Overview

Missouri’s general statute of limitations for a common-law wrongful termination claim is 5 years under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.037. No claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified for this topic, so the general/default period is the one to use for reference purposes.

Wrongful termination claims can be time-sensitive, and the filing deadline usually turns on the date the termination occurred, not the date the employee discovered every consequence of the firing. For this kind of reference page, the main question is whether the claim was filed within the applicable limitations period and whether anything changed when the clock started.

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator helps users map the termination date to the deadline and see how different inputs affect the result. If you want to check a date quickly, use the calculator here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Limitation period

Missouri’s general limitations period for this type of claim is 5 years.

In practical terms, that means a common-law wrongful termination claim in Missouri is measured against a five-year filing window unless a specific exception applies. The simplest starting point is the termination date, with the deadline running forward five years from there.

Here’s a basic way to think about the inputs:

A few practical examples:

• If an employee was terminated on June 1, 2020, the baseline deadline would fall on June 1, 2025.
• If the termination happened on December 15, 2021, the baseline deadline would be December 15, 2026.
• If the claim is really based on a different cause of action, the deadline may not be 5 years at all.

DocketMath is useful when you want to test those dates quickly. Enter the termination date, filing date, and any tolling or accrual details to see how the output changes.

Key exceptions

Missouri’s default period is 5 years, but the deadline can change if the claim does not accrue on the termination date or if a tolling rule applies.

Common deadline-altering issues include:

• Delayed accrual

  • The claim may accrue later than the termination date if the legal theory depends on a later event.
• Tolling

  • Certain circumstances can pause or extend the running of the statute.
• Disability or incapacity

  • Some legal rules may extend the filing window if the claimant meets a recognized disability standard.
• Fraudulent concealment

  • If relevant facts were hidden in a legally meaningful way, the limitations analysis may change.
• Wrong cause of action

  • A termination dispute may also involve contract, discrimination, retaliation, or wage claims, each with its own deadline.

Quick review checklist:

DocketMath is most helpful when you want to test different dates quickly: termination date, discovery date, filing date, and any tolling interval. Changing any of those inputs can move the deadline forward or backward.

Statute citation

The general Missouri statute cited for this limitations period is Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.037.

For citation-focused reference use, the core data point is:

• State: Missouri
• Claim type: Common-law wrongful termination
• General limitations period: 5 years
• General statute: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.037

Because no claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified, this general/default period applies unless another rule controls the claim.

When preparing a deadline note, users should record:

1. The termination date
2. The filing date
3. The statute cited
4. Any tolling or accrual facts
5. Whether the claim is truly common-law wrongful termination

This makes it easier to audit the result later, especially if multiple claims are filed from the same employment event.

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator turns the Missouri rule into a deadline estimate by combining the relevant dates with the 5-year period.

Use it when you want to answer questions like:

• When does the limitations period expire?
• Is the filing date before or after the deadline?
• How does the deadline change if the accrual date moves?
• What happens if there was a tolling period?

Typical inputs and outputs:

Practical workflow:

1. Enter the termination date.
2. Select Missouri.
3. Confirm the claim is being analyzed under the common-law wrongful termination framework.
4. Add any dates that could affect accrual or tolling.
5. Review the calculated deadline and compare it to the filing date.

If you are building a deadline check for a case file or intake note, the calculator is available here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Missouri and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.100

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator