How long you have in New York
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 | Window | Counted from | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | N.Y. CPLR 213(2) |
| Unpaid Loan | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | N.Y. CPLR 213(2) |
| Contractor Dispute | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | N.Y. CPLR 213(2) |
| Auto Repair | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | N.Y. CPLR 213(2) |
| Security Deposit | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | N.Y. CPLR 213(2) |
| Other | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | N.Y. CPLR 213(2) |
| Property Damage | 3 years | the day the damage happened | N.Y. CPLR 214(4) |
| Sale of Goods | 4 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | N.Y. UCC 2-725(1) |
Worked example
If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 6 years runs out on 2032-03-15. 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 New York
Common questions
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in New York?
- The shortest window is 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under N.Y. CPLR 214(4). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- How long do you have on a property damage claim in New York?
- 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under N.Y. CPLR 214(4).
- How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in New York?
- 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under N.Y. UCC 2-725(1).
- How much can you claim in small claims court in New York?
- In the New York City Civil Court, Small Claims Part, an individual can claim up to $10,000. In the New York City Civil Court, Small Claims Part, a public agency can claim up to $10,000. In the City Court, Small Claims Part, an individual can claim up to $5,000. In the City Court, Small Claims Part, a public agency can claim up to $5,000. In the Town or Village Justice Court, an individual can claim up to $3,000. In the Town or Village Justice Court, a public agency can claim up to $3,000. That comes from N.Y. City Civ. Ct. Act §1801, N.Y. Uniform City Ct. Act §1801, N.Y. Uniform Justice Ct. Act §1801.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open New York'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 2026-02-20.
- N.Y. CPLR 213(2) · effective 2023-01-06 · A claim based on an agreement, written or spoken, must be filed within six years of when it was broken.
- N.Y. CPLR 214(4) · effective 2022-02-25 · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within three years of the damage.
- N.Y. UCC 2-725(1) · effective 2014-09-22 · 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.