Skip to Content

tolling a statute of limitations

Tolling a statute of limitations occurs when a time period during which a statute of limitations for bringing a specific type of legal action is temporarily stopped from running.

On This Page

tolling a statute of limitations

Tolling a statute of limitations occurs when a time period during which a statute of limitations for bringing a specific type of legal action is temporarily stopped from running.

Additional Information


For example, many states have statutes that toll the statute of limitations for an accrued negligence claim belonging to a child while the child is still a minor. That means that, for up to 18 years, the 2-year statute of limitations on negligence claims, which otherwise would have long since run out, is stopped from running. When the child reaches age 18, the 2-year statute of limitation period begins to run at that point, and the plaintiff has until they reach age 20 to file suit.

Related Terms