How long do I have to take someone to court?

General information from Lawmateanz

In New Zealand, the Limitation Act 2010 sets time limits for most civil claims. For most money claims, such as breach of contract or negligence, the general limit is six years from the date of the act or omission the claim is based on.

If you didn't know about the problem until later, you may have extra time in some cases, but there's generally a 15-year longstop after which a claim can't be brought.

Some claims have shorter limits, such as two years for defamation, and others are covered by specific laws, such as building defects and claims against estates.

Limitation rules are technical, so get advice early if a deadline might be close.

Written by Lawmateanz, not by a lawyer. General information only, not legal advice about your situation. For advice about your own matter, talk to a lawyer.

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General information only. Answers are written by independent lawyers based only on what's in the question. They aren't legal advice about your situation and don't create a lawyer–client relationship. For advice about your own matter, talk to a lawyer directly.