statute of limitations

American  

noun

Law.

1. a statute defining the period within which legal action may be taken.

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statute of limitations British  

noun

1. a legislative enactment prescribing the period of time within which proceedings must be instituted to enforce a right or bring an action at law See also laches

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statute of limitations Cultural  

1. Any law that places a time restriction during which a lawsuit must be brought to court or a crime must be prosecuted.

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Etymology

Origin of statute of limitations

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

If your stepmother acknowledged in the email she sent you after the statute of limitations expired on contesting the will, even implicitly, that she promised to give you $500,000, that could suffice.

From MarketWatch

In Texas, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is generally two years from the date the malpractice occurred.

From The Wall Street Journal

Under French law, alleged assaults that took place before 1993 come under the country's statute of limitations, so no prosecutions for them would be possible.

From BBC

The statute of limitations may be tolled if your father was mentally incapacitated and/or if the fiduciary concealed material facts from a co-trustee or executor and made false representations when settling the estate.

From MarketWatch

Two: there is no statute of limitations on friendliness.

From Salon