Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

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Key definition

Limitation period definition

What does Limitation period mean? The limitation period is the statutory time limit for commencing a civil claim; once expired, proceedings are time‑barred (statute‑barred) and a limitation defence is available. Periods are set by legislation: in England and Wales by the Limitation Act 1980, in Northern Ireland by the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, in Scotland by the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, and in Ireland by the Statute of Limitations 1957 (as amended, including 1991). Time usually runs from accrual of the cause of action, but may instead run from the claimant’s date of knowledge for latent damage or personal injury, and...

Limitation Periods in Insolvency: Office-Holder and Debtor Claims, Claims Against Insolvent Parties, Exceptions, and Practical Steps (England and Wales)

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Practice notes

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Limitation periods

Limitation periods describe the window within which a claim must be issued. The rules are contained in the Limitation Act 1980 (LA 1980), which sets out different time limits for various causes of action. In an Insolvency setting, claims are commonly grouped into three types:

actions founded on a 'speciality' carry a 12-year period. Speciality claims include those arising from a statutory cause of action and typically concern recovery of property, such as setting aside a transaction in insolvency where the remedy is not simply the payment of money
claims to recover a sum of money under statute have a six-year period
claims for which no limitation period applies

A limitation clock will usually start on the date the cause of action accrues. That position applies where the claim stems from the debtor’s own cause of action. For instance, if an office-holder seeks to recoup unlawful dividends for a company, time runs from the date of each unlawful distribution, and each such payment initiates a separate limitation period...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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