Minnesota Small Claims Statute of Limitations: How Long You Have to File
The statute of limitations is a filing deadline. Once it passes, the defendant may raise a time-bar defense. Minnesota court clerks won't check or warn you about the timeline. It's entirely on you to file before the clock runs out.
Key Limitation Periods in Minnesota
Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 541, the most common deadlines for Conciliation Court claims are:
| Claim Type | Time Limit | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Written contracts | 6 years | § 541.05, subd. 1(1) |
| Oral contracts | 6 years | § 541.05, subd. 1(1) |
| Property damage | 6 years | § 541.05, subd. 1(4) |
| Personal injury | 6 years | § 541.05, subd. 1(4) |
| Security deposit claims | 6 years | § 541.05 (general obligation) |
| Sale of goods (UCC) | 4 years | § 336.2-725 |
Most claims you'd bring in Conciliation Court fall under the 6-year window. The shorter 4-year UCC period applies specifically to transactions involving the sale of goods — a defective product, a shipment that never arrived, a car sale gone wrong.
When the Clock Starts
The limitation period runs from the date the claim accrues — typically when the breach or injury happened, not when you discovered it. For a broken contract, that's the date the other party failed to perform or stopped paying. For property damage, it's the date the damage occurred.
Some examples:
- A contractor takes your deposit in March 2021 and walks off the job. The 6-year clock starts in March 2021. You must file by March 2027.
- A landlord should have returned your security deposit by April 15, 2023 (21 days after the tenancy ended and the landlord received your forwarding address). The clock starts on that missed deadline. You have until April 2029.
- A seller breached a contract for the sale of goods in June 2022. Under the 4-year UCC period, the deadline is June 2026.
What Happens If You Miss It
The statute of limitations is an affirmative defense. That means the defendant has to raise it — the court clerk won't block your filing even if the deadline has passed. If the defendant raises the defense and the claim is time-barred, the court may dismiss it.
Don't count on the other side forgetting to raise it.
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Mediation and Settlement Talks Don't Pause the Clock
A common mistake: assuming that ongoing negotiations, mediation sessions or demand letter exchanges put the timeline on hold. They don't automatically toll the statute of limitations.
If you're in mediation and the deadline is approaching, file your claim in Conciliation Court first. You can still settle after filing — and formalize the agreement through Form CCT105 — but the filing preserves your right to pursue the claim in court.
Filing Date = Protection Date
Your claim is legally commenced on the date the court administrator accepts and files your completed Form CCT102, provided valid service is later completed within the required time. That's the date that stops the clock. For Guide & File or eFile & eServe, confirm that the completed claim has been accepted and filed; starting the interview or submission is not enough.
If you're close to the deadline, confirm with court administration when the filing method you use will be accepted and filed.
For a complete walkthrough of the filing process, including a deadline calendar that tracks limitation periods alongside service and hearing timelines, the Minnesota Small Claims Filing Guide covers every critical date.
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