Gov. DeWine signs bill reducing statute of limitations for breach of contract claims

On March 16, 2021, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Ohio Senate Bill 13 into law. Senate Bill 13 reduces the statute of limitations for breach of written contract actions from eight years to six years, and for breach of oral contract actions from six years to four years.  

In order to determine whether the reduced statute of limitation applies to your claim, it is critical to determine when your cause of action accrued. Ohio law provides that a cause of action accrues when a breach occurs.  

The reduced statute of limitations will apply to all claims that accrue on or after June 14, 2021.  Written contract claims that accrue prior to June 14, 2021, must be brought within the time remaining under the prior eight-year limitations or by June 14, 2027, whichever occurs first.  Likewise, oral contract claims that accrue prior to June 14, 2021, must be brought within the time remaining under the prior six-year limitations or by June 14, 2025, whichever occurs first.