Ontario Limitation Period Calculator

Use our free Ontario Limitations Act calculator to find your limitation period. Handles suspensions, acknowledgments, and tolling agreements automatically.

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Ontario Limitations Act, 2002 — Deadline Calculator

Ontario Limitation Period Calculator

Find out how long you have to start your Ontario civil lawsuit. The deadline isn’t always two years. Last updated on February 18, 2026.

Step 0: Date of Act or Omission
Answer a few questions to estimate your deadline under Ontario’s Limitations Act, 2002.
What this tool does: It walks you through the legal framework (like the basic 2-year limitation period, the 15-year ultimate limitation period, and the main exceptions and tolling provisions) to estimate your deadline under Ontario’s Limitations Act.
Important: This tool does not replace legal advice. Limitation periods involve complex legal judgments, especially around the concept of “discovery.” If your deadline may be approaching, consult a lawyer immediately.
When did the event that harmed you happen?
Enter the date of the incident that caused your injury, loss, or damage. In the Limitations Act, this is called the “act or omission.” This is not when you found out about it. We’ll ask about that later.

For example, Your accountant filed your taxes incorrectly on April 30, 2023, but you didn’t find out until the CRA audited you in November. In this case, enter April 30, 2023.
Determining the correct date (s. 15(6)): If the harmful conduct was ongoing, use the date it stopped, not when it started. If there were multiple related incidents, use the date of the last one. If someone owed you money payable on demand, use the date they first failed to pay after you asked.
Step 1: Does the Limitations Act Apply?
Ontario’s Limitations Act does not apply to certain types of proceedings (s. 2). Does your claim fall into any of these categories?
Is your claim any of the following?
Step 2: Claims With No Limitation Period
Section 16 lists claims that have no limitation period at all. Does your claim involve any of the following?
Select the category that best describes your claim:
Step 3: Check for Special Limitation Periods
Other Ontario statutes set their own limitation periods that override the limitation periods set out in Ontario’s Limitations Act (s. 19). Search below to check if a special limitation period applies to your claim.
Why this matters: If your claim falls under any of the statutes listed here, that statute’s limitation period applies instead, and it may be shorter or longer than 2 years. Click here to see the list of special limitation periods.
Search for Special Limitation Periods (s. 19)
Does a special limitation period from another Act apply to your claim?
⚠️ Not sure? Click here to explore whether any of these special limitation periods may apply to your claim.
Step 4: Determining Your Discovery Date
Under s. 5 of the Act, the 2-year basic limitation period runs from when you discovered (or your claim — not necessarily when the event occurred. Let’s work through that.
The Discovery Rule (s. 5(1)): A claim is “discovered” on the earlier of (a) when you actually knew, or (b) when a reasonable person in your circumstances should have known, all four of the following elements.
1 Injury, Loss or Damage Occurred (s. 5(1)(a)(i))
When did you first know (or when should you reasonably have first known) that you suffered an injury, loss, or damage?
Examples: You were in a car accident and felt pain immediately — you knew that day. A contractor finished a renovation, but you didn’t notice the water damage behind the walls until 6 months later — you knew when you discovered the damage. You paid for a service you never received — you knew when the service was supposed to be delivered and wasn’t.
2 Caused by an Act or Omission (s. 5(1)(a)(ii))
When did you first know (or should have known) that the injury, loss, or damage was caused by or contributed to by someone’s act or failure to act?
Examples: You slipped and fell on an icy sidewalk — you knew right away that someone’s failure to clear the ice caused your fall. You felt unwell for months before a doctor explained that a previous medical procedure was done incorrectly — you knew when the doctor told you. Your investment lost money and you only later learned your advisor had failed to follow your instructions — you knew when you learned of the advisor’s mistake.
3 Identity of the Responsible Person (s. 5(1)(a)(iii))
When did you first know (or should have known) that the specific person or company you want to claim against was responsible?
Examples: You were rear-ended and exchanged insurance info at the scene — you knew who was responsible that day. A defective product injured you, but you didn’t learn which manufacturer made the part until a recall notice was issued — you knew when you saw the recall. Money went missing from a joint account and you only discovered which party was responsible after reviewing bank records — you knew when you identified the person.
4 Appropriateness of a Proceeding (s. 5(1)(a)(iv))
When did you first know (or should have known) that going to court would be an appropriate way to deal with the situation?
Examples: You were owed money and asked for it back, but the person refused — at that point, a lawsuit became appropriate. A professional (doctor, lawyer, accountant) made an error. You may not have realized a legal claim was appropriate until another professional told you what happened wasn’t normal — you knew at that point. For most straightforward disputes (car accidents, broken contracts, unpaid debts), a court proceeding is appropriate from the start.
Is this a demand obligation? (s. 5(3))
A demand obligation is one where performance is required only after a demand is made (e.g., a demand loan). If so, the clock starts from the first failure to perform after demand.
5 (1) A claim is discovered on the earlier of,

  (a) the day on which the person with the claim first knew,
    (i) that the injury, loss or damage had occurred,
    (ii) that the injury, loss or damage was caused by or contributed to by an act or omission,
    (iii) that the act or omission was that of the person against whom the claim is made, and
    (iv) that, having regard to the nature of the injury, loss or damage, a proceeding would be an appropriate means to seek to remedy it; and

  (b) the day on which a reasonable person with the abilities and in the circumstances of the person with the claim first ought to have known of the matters referred to in clause (a).

(2) A person with a claim shall be presumed to have known of the matters referred to in clause (1)(a) on the day the act or omission on which the claim is based took place, unless the contrary is proved.

(3) For the purposes of subclause (1)(a)(i), the day on which injury, loss or damage occurs in relation to a demand obligation is the first day on which there is a failure to perform the obligation, once a demand for the performance is made.
Step 5: Factors That May Pause the Clock
Several provisions can suspend or extend the limitation period. Check any that apply.
Were you a minor (under 18) at any time after discovering the claim, and that you did not have a litigation guardian? (s. 6)
Were you incapable of commencing a proceeding due to a physical, mental, or psychological condition, and that you did not have a litigation guardian? (s. 7)
Did you and the other party agree to have an independent third party resolve or help resolve the claim (e.g., mediation)? (s. 11)
Did the person you have a claim against acknowledge liability? (s. 13)
This applies to only to claims for payment of a liquidated (fixed) sum, recovery of personal property, or enforcement/relief from a charge on personal property. The acknowledgment must be in writing and signed, or a part payment was made.
Did the person you have a claim against do either of the following? (s. 15(4)(c))
Wilfully conceal that injury, loss, or damage occurred, that it was caused by their act or omission, or that they were responsible; or wilfully mislead you as to whether a court proceeding was an appropriate remedy.

This tolls the 15-year ultimate limitation period. The burden of proof is on you (s. 15(5)).
Did you and the other party enter into a written agreement to suspend or extend the limitation period? (s. 22)
A “tolling agreement” or “standstill agreement” is a written contract in which both parties agree to pause or extend the limitation period, usually while they negotiate. The agreement must have been made on or after October 19, 2006 (s. 22(3)).

It suspends both the basic (s. 4) and ultimate (s. 15) periods — but for the ultimate period, only if the claim has already been discovered (s. 22(4)).
Your Estimated Limitation Deadlines
This is an estimate only. Key factors that could affect your actual deadline include:

• Discovery disputes: The date of discovery is often contested. Courts apply the “reasonable person” standard (s. 5(1)(b)), and there is a rebuttable presumption that you discovered the claim on the day the act/omission occurred (s. 5(2)).

• Contribution and indemnity (s. 18): If you are a defendant seeking contribution from another party, the limitation period runs from when you were served with the original claim.

• Business agreements (s. 22): Parties to a business agreement can vary or exclude the basic limitation period (but not the ultimate period, except to suspend/extend it if the claim has been discovered).

• Adding parties (s. 21): Once a limitation period has expired, the person cannot be added to an existing proceeding (except to correct a misnaming).

• COVID-19 emergency suspension (O. Reg. 73/20): Limitation periods were suspended from March 16 to September 13, 2020 (182 days). Per McAuley v Canada Post Corporation, 2021 ONSC 4528 and LAWPRO/PracticePRO guidance, this tool freezes the limitation clock during the suspension period. If your claim was discovered during the suspension, the clock starts September 14, 2020.

• Conflict of laws (s. 23): Ontario’s limitations law is treated as substantive law for conflict of laws purposes.

Consult a lawyer for a definitive assessment.
Save your results:
Disclaimer: This tool provides general information based on the Limitations Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B. It is not legal advice. Limitation periods involve fact-specific legal determinations. Consult a qualified Ontario lawyer before relying on any deadline. For any questions or comments, please email Tom at admin@courtready.ca.  |  Read the Act on e-Laws

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Understanding the Limitations Act in Ontario: What This Calculator Does

The Limitations Act, 2002 sets the rules for how long you have to start a lawsuit in Ontario. In most cases, you have two years from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) your claim. Miss that window, and your right to sue is gone, regardless of how strong your case is.

But calculating your actual limitation period isn’t always straightforward. The Act contains rules that can pause the clock, reset it, or extend it depending on your circumstances. Suspension periods may apply if a party was a minor or incapable. An acknowledgment of the debt or claim under section 13 can restart the clock entirely. A tolling agreement between the parties can freeze it. And in some cases, these factors overlap.

This calculator accounts for all of that. Enter your key dates and circumstances, and it will determine your limitation period under the Act — including any applicable suspensions, acknowledgments, or tolling agreements. It also tracks the ultimate limitation period of 15 years, which acts as a hard backstop that no extension can overcome.

Whether you’re a self-represented litigant trying to figure out if you still have a claim, a paralegal managing deadlines, or a lawyer double-checking your dates, this tool gives you a clear answer in seconds.

We want to empower Canadians with the right tools and knowledge to navigate our justice system with confidence. Finally, while you are here, be sure to check out our other tools above!

Ontario's Limitations Act sets the deadlines for starting a civil lawsuit in the province. Whether you call it the "Limitations Act Ontario" or simply need to know your limitation period, the rules are the same: in most cases, you have two years from the date you discovered your claim. Our free calculator walks you through the full framework — including suspensions, acknowledgments, and tolling agreements — so you can determine your exact deadline under the Act of Limitation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the limitation period for suing someone in Ontario?

Under the Limitations Act, 2002, the basic limitation period is two years. The clock starts from the day you discovered, or ought to have discovered, your claim. There is also an ultimate limitation period of 15 years from the date the act or omission actually occurred. Once the 15-year window closes, no claim can be brought — even if you only recently discovered it.

Does the limitation period apply to Small Claims Court?

Yes. The same limitation periods under the Limitations Act apply whether you are filing in Small Claims Court or the Superior Court of Justice. The two-year basic limitation period and the 15-year ultimate limitation period govern both courts equally.

Can a limitation period be paused or extended in Ontario?

Yes. The Act provides for suspension of the limitation period in specific circumstances — for example, if the person with the claim was a minor or was incapable of commencing proceedings. The parties can also agree in writing to a tolling agreement, which freezes the clock for a set period. And if the person against whom the claim is made acknowledges the claim or debt under section 13 of the Act, the basic limitation period restarts from the date of acknowledgment.

What happens if my limitation period has expired?

If the basic two-year limitation period has passed, you are generally barred from starting a lawsuit. The defendant can raise the expiry as a complete defence, and the court will dismiss your claim. There are very limited exceptions, so it is critical to determine your deadline before taking any other steps.

Are there claims that are not covered by the Limitations Act?

Yes. Certain claims are exempt under Schedule A of the Act or governed by special limitation periods in other legislation. For example, claims under certain environmental statutes, proceedings by the Crown, and some municipal tax matters have their own rules. If your situation involves a specialized area of law, the standard two-year period may not apply — and a different deadline may be shorter or longer.

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