{"id":198255,"date":"2026-06-03T07:33:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T06:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=198255"},"modified":"2026-06-09T02:21:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T01:21:26","slug":"time-limit-claims-against-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/disputes-litigation\/time-limit-claims-against-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Do People Have to Bring Legal Claims Against My Business?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding when a legal claim against your business becomes time-barred is essential for managing risk and knowing when you may have a complete defence. The<em> Limitation Act 1980<\/em> sets out specific time limits for different types of claims in England and Wales, and understanding when those clocks start ticking can make a significant difference to your legal position. This article explains the key limitation periods for business-related claims, when they begin to run, and why they matter to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Time Limits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Limitation Act 1980<\/em> sets out the time limits for bringing claims in England and Wales. The most common limitation periods are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Six years for claims involving simple contracts and most torts, including negligence; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Twelve years for claims involving a specialty, such as a breach of a deed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/disputes-litigation\/statute-of-limitation-period-commercial-dispute\/\">limitation period<\/a> usually starts when the cause of action arises. However, some exceptions apply. For example, the limitation period may start later if the claimant only discovers the wrongdoing or loss at a later date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>When calculating the limitation period, you usually exclude the day the cause of action arises. However, if it arises at midnight, you include the following day when calculating the expiry date.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contractual Claims<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contract law, a claimant does not need to prove a substantial loss before bringing a claim. The limitation period starts when the breach occurs, not when the claimant suffers loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--star\">\n    <p>For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/commercial-contracts\/seller-deliver-goods-to-buyer\/\">if your business delivers goods late<\/a> under a supply contract, the limitation period starts on the delivery date required under the contract. This applies even if the customer suffers financial loss at a later date.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 rounded-t-xl\">\n    Continue reading this article below the form\n    <i class=\"text-xl fa-regular fa-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n<\/a>\n<div class=\"px-6 pt-10 pb-12 mb-10 text-center bg-gray-100 rounded-b-xl sm:px-12 test\">\n    <div class=\"mb-8 text-2xl font-bold text-orange\">\n        Need legal advice?\n        <br>\n        <span class=\"text-lg not-prose\">\n                            Call <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"not-prose\">0808 196 8584<\/a> for urgent assistance.\n                <br>\n                Otherwise, complete this form, and we will contact you within one business day.\n                    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n<div class=\"not-prose flex justify-center text-left gform_input_bg_white    \">\n    <script>\nvar 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This is the default position unless the contract states otherwise. Clear contract terms can help define when payment falls due. They also help determine when the limitation period starts for any claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guarantees and Indemnities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For guarantees and indemnities, time starts when you know the facts needed to bring a claim. A payment demand does not always start the clock. The guarantee must clearly require a demand before liability starts. Otherwise, a claimant may lose the right to enforce it by waiting too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Claims Involving Fraud, Concealment, or Mistake<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Special rules apply to claims involving fraud, concealment or mistake. In these cases, the limitation period starts when the claimant discovers the wrongdoing. It can also start when the claimant could reasonably have discovered it through due diligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The claimant must prove they could not have discovered the fraud, concealment or mistake earlier. They do not need to show they took exceptional measures that could not reasonably be expected. These rules prevent dishonest parties from benefiting from concealed wrongdoing. They also prevent claimants from delaying action once they become aware of a potential claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extension of Time for Serving a Claim Form<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if a claimant issues proceedings in time, they must still serve the claim form on time. A claim form remains valid for four months after issue. This period extends to six months if the claimant serves it abroad. If they miss the deadline, the claim will usually expire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The court can extend the deadline if the claimant applies before the claim form expires. However, the claimant must show a good reason. This usually means a genuine difficulty serving the claim, not oversight or delay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--warning\">\n    <p>Courts treat extensions seriously if they remove your business\u2019 limitation defence. This means courts do not grant extensions lightly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Limitation Matters to Your Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For businesses, limitation periods create certainty by requiring claimants to bring claims promptly. Once a limitation period expires, the claim is usually out of time. However, special exceptions may apply, such as fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As explained above, the clock can start on different dates. This depends on the claim type and <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/commercial-contracts\/business-contract-ter\">contract terms<\/a>. Keep clear records of contracts, correspondence and performance dates. These records help determine when a claim may have arisen.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"my-7 lg:my-10 border-y-2 border-gray-100 py-7 lg:py-10 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start gap-10\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-52 mx-auto my-0! rounded\" src=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/09\/27074704\/guide-to-resolve-uk-image-1.jpg\" alt=\"Front page of publication\"\n                 loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"298\">\n                <section>\n            <div class=\"text-2xl font-bold\">Guide to Resolving UK Business Disputes<\/div>\n            <div class=\"body-text\">\n                <p>This guide outlines how to resolve commercial disputes.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/go.legalvision.com.au\/guide-resolving-uk-business-disputes.html\" class=\" block px-5 py-3.5 max-w-fit bg-orange button__hover transition rounded text-white font-bold text-lg no-underline uppercase leading-tight text-center\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Download Now<\/a>        <\/section>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p dir=\"auto\"><strong>Key Statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol dir=\"auto\">\n<li><strong>4 months:<\/strong> Standard validity period of a claim form in England and Wales; courts rarely grant extensions if doing so would remove a limitation defence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>6 years:<\/strong> Primary limitation period for simple contracts and most torts; time runs from the date the cause of action accrues, usually the breach.<\/li>\n<li><strong>12 years:<\/strong> Limitation period for claims under a deed or specialty; offers longer protection but still requires claimants to act promptly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p dir=\"auto\"><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol dir=\"auto\">\n<li>Judiciary.uk (2025)<\/li>\n<li>Legislation.gov.uk (2025)<\/li>\n<li>The Law Society (2025)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the <em>Limitation Act<\/em>, most business claims have a six-year limitation period. This applies to simple contracts and most torts. Claims involving deeds usually have a twelve-year limitation period. Once the limitation period expires, your business will often have a complete defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding when the limitation period starts, and when it may be extended, is important. It can help you manage claims against your business and claims your business may wish to bring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LegalVision provides ongoing legal support for all businesses through our fixed-fee legal membership. Our experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/disputes-lawyers-lp\/\">disputes lawyers<\/a> help businesses manage contracts, employment law, disputes, intellectual property, and more, with unlimited access to specialist lawyers for a fixed monthly fee.&nbsp;To learn more about LegalVision\u2019s legal membership, call <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0808 196 8584<\/a> or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/membership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">visit our membership page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780465135853\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Does the limitation period apply to claims brought against my business by employees or consumers?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, but different types of claims, such as employment tribunal cases or consumer disputes, may have their own specific time limits set by separate laws.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780465161219\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can my business agree in a contract to shorten or extend the statutory limitation period?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Generally, parties can agree to vary limitation periods in a contract, but such clauses must be clearly drafted and reasonable to be enforceable.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780467800283\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">When does the limitation period start for a breach of contract claim?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The clock starts when the breach occurs, not when the claimant suffers loss. For example, a late delivery claim starts on the contractually required delivery date, regardless of when financial loss arises.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780467801135\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What limitation period applies to claims involving deeds compared to simple contracts?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Simple contracts and most torts carry a six-year limitation period. Claims involving a specialty such as a deed carry a twelve-year limitation period under the <em>Limitation Act 1980<\/em>.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understanding when a legal claim against your business becomes time-barred is essential for managing risk and knowing when you may have a complete defence. The Limitation Act 1980 sets out specific time limits for different types of claims in England and Wales, and understanding when those clocks start ticking can make a significant difference to<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/disputes-litigation\/time-limit-claims-against-business\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;How Long Do People Have to Bring Legal Claims Against My Business?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13569,"featured_media":191840,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[20,21,559,2666,2667,2668],"class_list":["post-198255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disputes-litigation","tag-small-business","tag-medium-business","tag-indemnities","tag-the-limitation-act-1980","tag-guarantees","tag-business-claims"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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Long Do People Have to Bring Legal Claims Against My Business?"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/disputes-litigation\/time-limit-claims-against-business\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Disputes and Litigation Articles","item":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/category\/disputes-litigation\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How Long Do People Have to Bring Legal Claims Against My Business?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/","name":"LegalVision UK","description":"LegalVision is a commercial law firm in the UK with a commitment to 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Krishna"},"url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/author\/arjunkrishna\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/disputes-litigation\/time-limit-claims-against-business\/#faq-question-1780465135853","name":"Does the limitation period apply to claims brought against my business by employees or consumers?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, but different types of claims, such as employment tribunal cases or consumer disputes, may have their own specific time limits set by separate laws.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/disputes-litigation\/time-limit-claims-against-business\/#faq-question-1780465161219","name":"Can my business agree in a contract to shorten or extend the statutory limitation period?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Generally, parties can agree to vary limitation periods in a contract, but such clauses must be clearly drafted and reasonable to be enforceable.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/disputes-litigation\/time-limit-claims-against-business\/#faq-question-1780467800283","name":"When does the limitation period start for a breach of contract claim?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The clock starts when the breach occurs, not when the claimant suffers loss. For example, a late delivery claim starts on the contractually required delivery date, regardless of when financial loss arises.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/disputes-litigation\/time-limit-claims-against-business\/#faq-question-1780467801135","name":"What limitation period applies to claims involving deeds compared to simple contracts?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Simple contracts and most torts carry a six-year limitation period. Claims involving a specialty such as a deed carry a twelve-year limitation period under the <em>Limitation Act 1980<\/em>.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/13569"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=198255"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":198300,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198255\/revisions\/198300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/191840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=198255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=198255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=198255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}