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Written Contract · Statute of Limitations

Deadline to Sue Over a Contract in Arizona

How long you have to sue over a broken written contract in Arizona, the statute of limitations, plus when the clock starts, the shorter deadline for oral contracts, and the four-year UCC rule for a sale of goods. Cited to the statute.

CitedCited to its source
Statute Ariz. Rev. Stat. §12‑548 · azleg.gov
Confirming against the full textHow we verify →
Deadline to sue over a contract · Arizona
6 years
On a written contract
You have six years to sue over a broken written contract in Arizona under A.R.S. §12-548, which sets a six-year limit for a debt evidenced by a contract in writing executed in the state. The clock generally runs from the breach.
Time to sue6 years
Clock startsWhen the breach occurs
Discovery ruleYes (narrow)
StatuteAriz. Rev. Stat. §12‑548

How the deadline works in Arizona

When the clock starts, whether a discovery rule can delay it, and the deadlines that differ for oral contracts and a sale of goods.

How the clock worksIn ArizonaWhat it means
Standard deadline6 yearsThe general limitations period to file a written-contract claim.
StatuteAriz. Rev. Stat. §12-548The controlling statute for the limitations period. Read the full text through the source link below.

When it starts

The six years generally starts when the cause of action accrues, usually when the breach occurs. Arizona measures ordinary contract claims from the breach, though a discovery rule can postpone accrual where the breach was not reasonably discoverable when it happened.

Discovery rule Yes

Limited. Arizona applies a discovery rule that can delay accrual until the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known of the breach, but the default for a plain contract breach remains accrual at the breach. Treat it as the exception, not the norm.

Statute of repose: None

No general statute of repose for ordinary written contracts. The six-year period runs from breach, or from delayed discovery where that rule applies. Claims tied to development or improvements to real property have their own outer limits, but those are not the general §12-548 clock.

Deadlines that can differPeriodWhat it means
Oral or unwritten contract3 yearsAn action on a contract not in writing must be filed within three years under A.R.S. §12-543, half the written period. Whether a deal counts as a contract in writing can decide the deadline, so this is the biggest trap in Arizona.
Sale of goods (UCC)4 yearsA contract for the sale of goods is governed by A.R.S. §47-2725: four years from when the breach occurs, with warranty claims accruing at delivery regardless of your knowledge. Parties may agree to shorten it to no less than one year but may not extend it.
Contract executed outside ArizonaVariesSection 12-548 ties the six-year period to a written contract executed in the state and includes a choice-of-law provision. A contract executed elsewhere can draw a different period, so confirm where the writing was signed before relying on six years.

What you can do right now

Concrete, neutral steps if a contract was broken in Arizona and the clock is running. This is legal information, not legal advice.

  1. Fix the breach date and confirm the contract is written

    Write down when the other side broke the agreement and confirm you have a signed writing executed in Arizona. A written contract carries six years under §12-548, but an oral one is only three, so the paper trail matters.

  2. For installment deals, count from each missed payment

    If the contract calls for ongoing performance, each separate breach can start its own six-year clock. That can keep newer claims alive while barring older ones, so map the dates before you assume everything is timely.

  3. If goods were sold, check the UCC clock

    A sale of goods runs on A.R.S. §47-2725, a separate four-year rule that accrues at delivery for warranty claims. Confirm whether your deal is a sale of goods rather than a services or general contract.

  4. Talk to an Arizona attorney before the deadline

    Whether a contract is written, where it was executed, and when it was breached all turn on your facts. A licensed Arizona attorney can confirm your exact deadline. The state bar can refer you to one.

This is general legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines turn on the specific facts of your case, and exceptions cut both ways, so confirm your date with a licensed attorney before relying on it.

What Arizona contract claimants get wrong

The costly mistake in Arizona is treating every agreement as if it carries the same deadline. A written contract gives you six years under A.R.S. §12-548, but an oral or unwritten one gives you only three under §12-543. Whether a deal counts as a contract in writing can therefore decide whether your claim is alive or dead. Arizona adds a wrinkle other states lack: §12-548 ties the six-year period to a writing executed in the state and carries a choice-of-law provision, so where the contract was signed can matter. The clock usually starts at the breach, not when you learn of it, though a discovery rule can help where a breach could not reasonably have been found. Installment contracts can start a fresh six-year clock at each missed payment. And a sale of goods runs on the §47-2725 four-year rule, not §12-548. If a deadline is close, pin down the breach dates and the form of the contract first.

Common questions

What is the statute of limitations on a written contract in Arizona?

Six years from the breach, under A.R.S. §12-548, for a debt evidenced by a contract in writing executed in the state. The clock generally runs from when the contract was broken, not from when you discovered it.

How long do I have to sue on an oral contract in Arizona?

Three years, under A.R.S. §12-543, which is half the written-contract period. Because the gap is large, whether your agreement counts as written or oral can decide whether your claim is still timely.

Does the six years start at the breach or when I found out?

Usually at the breach. Arizona recognizes a discovery rule for a breach that could not reasonably have been discovered when it happened, but the default is that the six years runs from the breach itself.

Is a contract to buy goods still six years in Arizona?

It is four years under a different statute. A sale of goods is governed by A.R.S. §47-2725, a four-year period that accrues at delivery for warranty claims regardless of your knowledge. Parties can shorten it to no less than one year but cannot extend it.

Primary source
→ Ariz. Rev. Stat. §12-548
Arizona State Legislature, A.R.S. §12-548 · azleg.gov
Cholilurrohman
Every figure on this page is cited to its source; a line-by-line statute confirmation is pending. Editorial standards →

Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.

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