Written Contract · Statute of Limitations
Deadline to Sue Over a Contract in Ohio
How long you have to sue over a broken written contract in Ohio, 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 Ohio
When the clock starts, whether a discovery rule can delay it, and the deadlines that differ for oral contracts and a sale of goods.
Recent change: Ohio Senate Bill 13 cut the written-contract limitations period from eight years to six (§2305.06) and the oral-contract period from six years to four (§2305.07), effective June 14, 2021. Claims that accrued before that date must be brought by the earlier of June 14, 2027, or the end of the prior period.
| How the clock works | In Ohio | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Standard deadline | 6 years | The general limitations period to file a written-contract claim. |
| Statute | Ohio Rev. Code §2305.06 | The controlling statute for the limitations period. Read the full text through the source link below. |
When it starts
The six years runs from when the cause of action accrues, generally the date of the breach. Ohio measures from the breach itself for ordinary written contracts, not from when you discover it, so a breach found late usually does not reset the clock.
Discovery rule No general rule
Ohio does not apply a general discovery rule to ordinary breach of written contract. The clock runs from the breach, not from when you learn of it. Narrow exceptions exist for specific claims, but do not assume a late-found breach delays the six-year period.
Statute of repose: None
No general statute of repose for ordinary written contracts; the six-year clock runs from breach. A separate ten-year repose applies to construction and improvements to real property under §2305.131, but that is not the general contract clock.
| Deadlines that can differ | Period | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Oral or unwritten contract | 4 years | An action on a contract not in writing, express or implied, must be brought within four years under §2305.07. Senate Bill 13 cut this from six years to four in 2021, so an oral deal now carries two fewer years than a written one. Whether your agreement counts as written can decide the deadline. |
| Sale of goods (UCC) | 4 years | A contract for the sale of goods is governed by §1302.98, Ohio's version of UCC Article 2: four years from when the breach occurs, with warranty claims accruing at delivery regardless of your knowledge. Senate Bill 13 did not change this. Parties may agree to shorten it to no less than one year, but may not extend it. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if a contract was broken in Ohio and the clock is running. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Count six years from the breach, not from eight
Write down the date the other side broke the agreement. Ohio cut the written-contract period from eight years to six in 2021, so do not rely on old eight-year guidance for a recent breach.
- Confirm the contract is written
A written contract carries six years under §2305.06, but an oral or implied one is only four under §2305.07. Confirm you have a signed writing, because the form of the contract changes the deadline.
- If goods were sold, check the UCC clock
A sale of goods runs on §1302.98 at four years, accruing at delivery for warranty claims. Confirm whether your deal is a sale of goods rather than a services or general contract, because the shorter period can control.
- Talk to an Ohio attorney before the deadline
Whether your breach accrued before or after the 2021 change, and whether transitional rules apply, turn on your facts. A licensed Ohio attorney can confirm your exact deadline. The Ohio 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.
→ Ohio State Bar Association · Find a LawyerThis 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 Ohio contract claimants get wrong
The trap in Ohio is relying on outdated guidance. For a written contract the deadline used to be eight years, but Senate Bill 13 cut it to six under Ohio Revised Code §2305.06, effective June 14, 2021. Older articles and templates that still say eight years can cost you a claim. The six years runs from when the cause of action accrues, generally the date of the breach, not the date you found out. Ohio does not apply a general discovery rule to ordinary written contracts, so a late-found breach usually will not reset the clock. The same 2021 law also cut oral contracts from six years to four under §2305.07, so the written-versus-oral gap is now two years, and whether your agreement is written can decide whether it is timely. A sale of goods runs on its own four-year UCC rule in §1302.98. If a breach is aging past six years, or accrued near the 2021 change, confirm the exact date before assuming you still have time.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on a written contract in Ohio?
Six years from the breach, under Ohio Revised Code §2305.06. This was cut from eight years to six by Senate Bill 13, effective June 14, 2021, so recent breaches carry the shorter six-year period.
Did Ohio change the contract statute of limitations?
How long do I have to sue on an oral contract in Ohio?
Four years, under §2305.07, two years less than a written contract. Senate Bill 13 cut this from six years to four in 2021, so whether your agreement is written matters for the deadline.
When does the six-year clock start in Ohio?
Generally at the breach. Ohio measures from when the cause of action accrues, not from discovery, for ordinary written contracts. There is no general discovery rule, so a late-found breach usually does not delay the six years.
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.