The periods in New Hampshire
| Claim | Period | Statute | From March 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written contract | 3 years | RSA 508:4, I | March 15, 2029 |
| Oral contract | 3 years | RSA 508:4, I | March 15, 2029 |
| Property damage | 3 years | RSA 508:4, I | March 15, 2029 |
In New Hampshire, the time limit to sue is 3 years for a written contract, 3 years for an oral contract and 3 years for damage to property. Each period runs from the date the claim arises, which statutes usually call the date the cause of action accrues; in the ordinary case that is the day of the breach or the damage.
A written contract, an oral contract and damage to property: RSA 508:4, I reads “all personal actions … within 3 years of the act or omission complained of.”
New Hampshire gives written and oral contracts the same 3 years, so whether the deal was put on paper does not change the deadline here.
Worked dates for a claim that arose on March 15, 2026: a written contract reaches its 3 years on March 15, 2029, an oral contract reaches its 3 years on March 15, 2029 and damage to property reaches its 3 years on March 15, 2029. Tolling rules (for example while a defendant is out of state, or for a minor) can extend a period, and some claims run from when the harm was discovered; the dates show the plain count only.
Among the 34 jurisdictions verified here, 28 allow longer than 3 years on a written contract and 0 allow less (median 6 years). For property damage, 8 of 33 give less than New Hampshire's 3 years (median 3 years). District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina have the same three periods.
Neighbouring states with verified periods (written / oral / property): Maine 6 / 6 / 6, Massachusetts 6 / 6 / 3 and Vermont 6 / 6 / 3. Which state's period applies to a dispute that crosses a border is itself a legal question.
RSA 508:4, I is New Hampshire's general period for personal actions and contains a discovery rule for harm that was not discovered, and could not reasonably have been discovered, at the time.
The time limit is the same whichever court hears the case. A claim of $10,000 or less can be filed in New Hampshire small claims (small claims limit), and it must still be filed inside the period above.
Sources: New Hampshire General Court, RSA 508:4 · last checked October 21, 2026.
Before the deadline
A limitation period is a cut-off for filing, not a measure of whether a claim is good. The guide on how limitation periods work explains accrual, tolling and the difference between written and oral contracts, and the small claims filing guide covers the next step.
Questions
What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in New Hampshire?
3 years for a written contract (RSA 508:4, I) and 3 years for an oral one (RSA 508:4, I).
How long do I have to sue for property damage in New Hampshire?
3 years under RSA 508:4, I.
When does the clock start?
When the cause of action accrues, usually the date of the breach or the damage. A claim that arose on March 15, 2026 reaches the New Hampshire periods on March 15, 2029 (a written contract), March 15, 2029 (an oral contract) and March 15, 2029 (damage to property).