Written Contract · Statute of Limitations
Deadline to Sue Over a Contract in New York
How long you have to sue over a broken written contract in New York, 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.
How the deadline works in New York
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 works | In New York | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Standard deadline | 6 years | The general limitations period to file a written-contract claim. |
| When it starts | Accrual | The six years runs from when the breach occurs. New York is a strict accrual-at-breach jurisdiction for contracts: the clock starts at the breach even if you do not learn of it until later. |
| Discovery rule | No general rule | No discovery rule for breach of contract. Accrual is fixed at the date of breach, and late discovery does not extend the six years. For UCC sales the statute says so expressly, running the clock regardless of the aggrieved party’s lack of knowledge of the breach. |
| Statute of repose | None | No separate repose for contracts. The six-year period from breach is the only limit for an ordinary contract claim. |
| Statute | N.Y. C.P.L.R. §213(2) | The controlling statute for the limitations period. Read the full text through the source link below. |
| Deadlines that can differ | Period | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Oral contract | 6 years | CPLR §213(2) covers a contractual obligation "express or implied," so New York does not shorten oral contracts. Both written and oral get six years, the reverse of the California or Illinois split where the numbers differ. |
| Sale of goods (UCC) | 4 years | A sale of goods runs on UCC §2-725 at four years from breach, accruing at delivery for warranty claims regardless of your knowledge. That is two years shorter than the general contract period, so for a goods sale the UCC cuts the deadline. Parties may reduce it to no less than one year. |
| Consumer debt | 3 years | The Consumer Credit Fairness Act sets a three-year limit for consumer-debt collection actions under CPLR §214-i, narrower than the six-year contract period. That is a separate debt-collection topic, but §213(2) now cross-references it, so the "except as provided" language should not be read as shortening ordinary contracts. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if a contract was broken in New York and the clock is running. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Count six years from the breach
Write down the date the other side broke the agreement. In New York the six years runs from that breach, whether the contract was written or oral, and even if you did not learn of the breach right away.
- Do not wait for a discovery rule
New York fixes accrual at the breach and applies no discovery rule to contracts. If you suspect a breach, count from when it happened, not from when you confirmed it.
- If goods were sold, the clock is shorter
A sale of goods runs on UCC §2-725 at four years, two years less than the general contract period. Confirm whether your deal is a sale of goods, because the shorter clock can catch you out.
- Talk to a New York attorney before the deadline
When a breach accrued, and whether the UCC or consumer-debt clock applies, turn on your facts. A licensed New York attorney can confirm your exact deadline. The State Bar can refer you to one.
A limitations deadline is easy to miscount, and missing it can end a valid claim. This resource can connect you with a licensed attorney who can confirm your exact deadline.
→ New York State Bar — Lawyer ReferralThis 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 New York contract claimants get wrong
New York is one of the more generous states for contracts, with six years to sue under CPLR §213(2), and it treats written and oral agreements alike. The statute reaches "a contractual obligation or liability, express or implied," so an oral contract gets the same six years as a written one, the opposite of the California or Illinois pattern where oral is shorter. The catch is accrual: New York fixes the start at the breach and applies no discovery rule, so the six years can quietly run even if you did not learn of the breach until later. Two exceptions cut the other way. A sale of goods runs on UCC §2-725 at only four years, two years shorter, so a goods dispute has less time than you might expect. And a consumer-debt collection action now carries a three-year clock under §214-i, which is why §213(2) reads "except as provided." For ordinary contracts, count six years from the breach and do not rely on late discovery.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on a written contract in New York?
Six years from the breach, under CPLR §213(2). The clock is fixed at the breach, and New York applies no discovery rule to contracts, so it runs even if you learn of the breach later.
Is an oral contract the same deadline as a written one in New York?
Yes. CPLR §213(2) covers a contractual obligation "express or implied," so both written and oral contracts get six years. This is the reverse of states like California, where oral contracts are shorter.
Is a contract to buy goods still six years in New York?
No. A sale of goods runs on UCC §2-725 at four years from breach, two years shorter than the general contract period. The clock accrues at delivery for warranty claims regardless of your knowledge.
When does the six-year contract clock start in New York?
At the breach. New York is a strict accrual-at-breach jurisdiction for contracts, so the six years begins when the contract was broken, not when you discovered it.
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.