"The statute of limitations is three years" is a phrase that is applied to any situation, although in reality the specific period depends on the type of claim: civil, labor, family, administrative or criminal. In each of these areas, the law establishes its own periods - from one month to fifteen years. The reference table below shows the current periods by category, so as not to rely on approximate ideas.
| Requirement category | Term | Legal basis | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil claims - general term | 3 years | p. 257 Central Committee | It is counted from the day when the person learned or should have learned about the violation of his right |
| Collection of penalty (fine, penalty) | 1 year | p. 258 Central Committee | The period for calculating the penalty itself is also limited to one year from the date of filing the claim. |
| Credit disputes - collection of principal debt | 3 years | p. 257 Central Committee | Calculated separately for each overdue payment according to the schedule, not from the date of signing the contract |
| Family claims (alimony, divorce, division of property) | without time limit | p. 20 SKU | The statute of limitations does not apply as a general rule, except for certain exceptions expressly defined by the Family Code. |
| Labor dispute about dismissal | 1 month | p. 233 Labor Code | From the date of delivery of a copy of the dismissal order |
| Other labor disputes (reprimands, suspensions) | 3 months | p. 233 Labor Code | From the day the employee learned or should have learned about the violation of the law |
| Wage collection | without time limit | p. 233 Labor Code | The restriction was lifted from December 2025; previously, a three-month period was in effect |
| Appealing decisions of government bodies (in particular, the PFU) in the administrative court | 6 months | p. 122 WHO | From the day the person learned or should have learned about the violation of the right, freedom or interest |
| Criminal liability - misdemeanor (light punishment) | 2 years | p. 49 KKU | Punishment is less severe than imprisonment |
| Criminal liability - misdemeanor (restriction of liberty) | 3 years | p. 49 KKU | Punishment in the form of restriction or imprisonment for a misdemeanor |
| Criminal liability - a crime of medium gravity | 5 years | p. 49 KKU | — |
| Criminal liability is a serious crime | 10 years | p. 49 KKU | — |
| Criminal liability - a particularly serious crime | 15 years | p. 49 KKU | Does not apply to crimes against the fundamentals of national security, peace and security of mankind |
The statute of limitations established by the Civil Code of Ukraine is extended for the entire period of martial law in Ukraine — this is provided for by the final provisions of the code. That is, the formal course of the three-month or three-year term is actually suspended for the period of martial law, and this should be taken into account before drawing a conclusion about the missed term.
Credit disputes. The bank or collector may claim that the statute of limitations has passed as a reason for rejecting the claim, but a counter-defense is also possible - the debtor himself may also claim that the statute of limitations has been applied to the bank's claim. A specialist in credit attorneys directory.
Family disputes. The absence of a general statute of limitations means that a claim for the recovery of alimony or the division of marital property can be filed even years after the event that gave rise to the dispute. With regard to divorce, alimony, and the division of property - to directory of family lawyers.
Pension disputes. The six-month period for appealing to the administrative court is one of the shortest in the table, so delaying the appeal of the PFU's refusal is risky. You can check the prospects of the case at pension lawyers directory.
Military disputes. The deadline for appealing to an administrative court regarding decisions of the Territorial Recruitment Centers or Military Medical Commission is also subject to the general six-month rule of the Code of Administrative Procedure of Ukraine, unless otherwise established by a special law. Support in such cases is in directory of military lawyers.
Criminal cases. The statute of limitations for bringing a case to justice varies significantly depending on the severity of the act - confusing a minor misdemeanor with a serious crime in this matter means making a mistake for years. A specialist in criminal lawyer directory.
The table is for reference purposes only - the specific deadline for your situation should be checked taking into account the date of the right to sue, possible grounds for suspension or interruption of the deadline, as well as the specifics of the specific case.
Lawyer's answers to frequently asked questions about statutes of limitations for different categories of cases.
Yes. As a general rule, the statute of limitations does not apply to claims for the collection of alimony, so you can go to court regardless of how much time has passed since the right to alimony arose.
Yes. The general statute of limitations for credit obligations is three years, and if the bank misses this period, the debtor (upon application) can use this as a basis for refusing to satisfy the claim.
Only one month from the date of delivery of a copy of the dismissal order is one of the shortest deadlines in labor disputes. It is easy to miss it, so it is worth contacting a lawyer immediately after receiving the order.
No. The statute of limitations established by the Civil Code of Ukraine is extended for the entire duration of martial law, so the formal running of the term is actually suspended until its expiration.
Six months from the date the person learned or should have learned about the violation of their rights is the deadline for filing an appeal with the administrative court. A lawyer will help you not to miss this deadline and file a claim correctly.
It depends on the severity of the crime. For serious crimes, the statute of limitations is ten years, so upon its expiration, a person is released from criminal liability, unless the statute of limitations is interrupted by the commission of a new crime.
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