Why this topic matters
Use this guide to identify the dates and legal rules a licensed attorney needs to calculate a filing deadline. The exact legal rule may depend on state law and case-specific facts, so this page should be used to prepare questions rather than make a final legal conclusion.
Information to gather
- Dates of treatment and the alleged error
- Date the injury or problem was first discovered
- Later diagnosis or corrective treatment dates
- Age or legal status of the patient when relevant
- Any notice involving a government facility or public entity
Questions to raise
- Which limitations and repose rules apply in the correct jurisdiction?
- Does a discovery, continuous-treatment, minor, foreign-object, or other exception potentially matter?
- Are there pre-suit notice periods that interact with the deadline?
- Does a public hospital or government defendant create a separate notice deadline?
Next research steps
Case Process LibraryStep-by-step guides to records, experts, pre-suit rules, discovery, settlement, and trial.State GuidesState-specific research questions and official-source starting points.Evidence GuidesOrganize the records that support a medical and legal review.Lawyer GuidesPrepare for screening and consulting licensed malpractice counsel.
Reliable starting sources
Use primary or authoritative sources for medical records, legal definitions, licensing, and state-specific rules. General pages cannot calculate a filing deadline or decide whether malpractice occurred.