- Contract and tort claims: generally six years.
- Personal injury: three years from the injury, or from when you knew of it.
- Hidden damage in negligence: special rules, with a 15-year long-stop.
- A signed acknowledgment or part payment of a debt restarts the clock.
The main time limits
The Limitation Act 1959 sets out how long you have to start a claim. The most common are:
- Contract: six years from when the cause of action arose, usually the date of the breach.
- Tort (such as negligence): six years from when the damage was suffered.
- Personal injury: three years from the injury, or from when the injured person knew of it, if later.
- Enforcing a court judgment: twelve years. Arrears of interest can only be recovered for six years.
Damage you could not have known about
Where negligence causes damage that only comes to light later, the claim can be brought within six years of the damage or three years from when the claimant knew enough to sue, whichever is later. A long-stop of fifteen years applies.
When the clock restarts or is paused
Several situations change when time runs:
- A written acknowledgment of a debt signed by the debtor, or a part payment, restarts the time limit.
- Where there was fraud, deliberate concealment or a mistake, time runs from when it was discovered, or could reasonably have been discovered.
- Time does not run against a child, or a person who lacks mental capacity, until that situation ends.
Don't leave it late
Working out exactly when time started can be complicated, and the court will not usually hear a claim brought after the deadline. If you think you may have a claim, take advice early.
This article is general information on Singapore law and is not legal advice. Rules and agency policies change, and every situation is different. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with one of our lawyers.
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