The periods in Wisconsin
| Claim | Period | Statute | From March 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.43(1) | March 15, 2032 |
| Oral contract | 6 years | Wis. Stat. § 893.43(1) | March 15, 2032 |
| Property damage | not verified | ||
In Wisconsin, the time limit to sue is 6 years for a written contract and 6 years for an oral contract; the property-damage period could not be verified. 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 and an oral contract: Wis. Stat. § 893.43(1) reads “Except as provided in sub. (2), an action upon any contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied, including an action to recover fees for professional services, except those mentioned in s. 893.40, shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues or be barred.”
Wisconsin gives written and oral contracts the same 6 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 6 years on March 15, 2032 and an oral contract reaches its 6 years on March 15, 2032. 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, 6 allow longer than 6 years on a written contract and 12 allow less (median 6 years). No other verified state has the same combination of periods.
Neighbouring states with verified periods (written / oral / property): Iowa 10 / 5 / 5, Michigan 6 / 6 / 3 and Minnesota 6 / 6 / 6. Which state's period applies to a dispute that crosses a border is itself a legal question.
Wis. Stat. § 893.52 (injury to property) could not be read: the Legislature's site refused automated reading of that page on 21 Oct 2026.
The time limit is the same whichever court hears the case. A claim of $10,000 or less can be filed in Wisconsin small claims (small claims limit), and it must still be filed inside the period above.
Sources: Wisconsin State Legislature, Wis. Stat. § 893.43 · 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 Wisconsin?
6 years for a written contract (Wis. Stat. § 893.43(1)) and 6 years for an oral one (Wis. Stat. § 893.43(1)).
How long do I have to sue for property damage in Wisconsin?
Not verified on this site: Wis. Stat. § 893.52 (injury to property) could not be read: the Legislature's site refused automated reading of that page on 21 Oct 2026.
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 Wisconsin periods on March 15, 2032 (a written contract) and March 15, 2032 (an oral contract).