How long you have in Kentucky
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.
| Kind of claim | Agreement | Window | Counted from | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.160 |
| Unpaid Loan | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.160 |
| Contractor Dispute | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.160 |
| Auto Repair | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.160 |
| Security Deposit | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.160 |
| Other | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.160 |
| Unpaid Invoice | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.120(1) |
| Unpaid Loan | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.120(1) |
| Contractor Dispute | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.120(1) |
| Auto Repair | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.120(1) |
| Security Deposit | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.120(1) |
| Other | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 413.120(1) |
| Property Damage | Either | 2 years | the day the damage happened | KRS 413.125 |
| Sale of Goods | Either | 4 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | KRS 355.2-725(1) |
Worked example
If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 10 years runs out on 2036-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.
More about Kentucky
Common questions
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Kentucky?
- The shortest window is 2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under KRS 413.125. Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- How long do you have on a property damage claim in Kentucky?
- 2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under KRS 413.125.
- How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in Kentucky?
- 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under KRS 355.2-725(1).
- How much can you claim in small claims court in Kentucky?
- An individual can claim up to $2,500. A business can claim up to $2,500. A public agency can claim up to $2,500. That comes from KRS 24A.230(1).
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Kentucky's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2026-07-01.
- KRS 413.160 · effective 2014-07-15 · A claim based on a written agreement signed after July 15, 2014 must be filed within ten years of when it was broken. Older written agreements have a fifteen-year window under KRS 413.090.
- KRS 413.120(1) · effective 2015-06-24 · A claim based on a spoken agreement must be filed within five years of when it was broken.
- KRS 413.125 · effective 1988-07-15 · A claim for damage to your personal property must be filed within two years of the damage. This is the shorter of the windows that can apply, so treat it as the deadline.
- KRS 355.2-725(1) · effective 1960-07-01 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.