How Long to Sue
KRS 413.140 — one year for a personal injury, two for damaged property, five for an unwritten contract
- Injury to the person, libel or slander, malicious prosecution, and malpractice by a physician, dentist or licensed hospital.
- Recovery of stolen property from the person who has it.
Those actions are brought within one year after the cause of action accrued.
Taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including an action to get it back, is brought within two years.
A contract not in writing, a liability created by a statute that sets no other time, trespass, fraud or mistake, and an injury to rights not otherwise listed, are brought within five years.
Sources for this section (3)
- KRS 413.140 — Actions to be brought within one year
- KRS 413.125 — Actions relating to personal property to be brought within two years
- KRS 413.120 — Actions to be brought within five years
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Kentucky attorney.