Legal Deadlines
Minnesota legal deadlines: how long you have to respond to a lawsuit, file an appeal, or take action. Includes statute of limitations calculator.
Missing a legal deadline can mean losing your case, your home, or your rights. Use this page to find the deadline that applies to your situation. If you’re not sure, talk to a lawyer — many legal aid organizations offer free advice.
Deadlines Are Absolute
Courts almost never extend filing deadlines. If you miss the deadline, you may permanently lose your right to file. When in doubt, file early and get legal help right away.
Calculate Your Deadline
Deadline Calculator
Enter the date of the triggering event and the number of days to calculate your deadline.
Statute of Limitations Calculator
Statute of Limitations Calculator
Select your type of claim and the date the event occurred to estimate your filing deadline.
Eviction (Unlawful Detainer)
7 days
After being served with an eviction summons and complaint
If you miss it: Default judgment may be entered; you could lose your home without a hearing.
Eviction — Writ of Recovery
24 hours
After court orders eviction
If you miss it: Sheriff may execute the writ and physically remove you from the property.
Security Deposit Return
21 days
After tenant moves out and provides forwarding address
If you miss it: Landlord may be liable for the full deposit plus a penalty.
Divorce (Dissolution) Response
30 days
After being served with a petition for dissolution
If you miss it: The court may proceed without your input; you may lose rights to property, custody, and support.
Order for Protection Hearing
14 days
After OFP is filed
If you miss it: A temporary ex parte order may become permanent without your testimony.
Order for Protection — Service on Respondent
12 days before hearing
After ex parte OFP is granted
If you miss it: Hearing may be continued; temporary order remains in effect.
Conciliation Court (Small Claims) Appeal
20 days
After judgment in conciliation court
If you miss it: Judgment becomes final and enforceable; no further appeal as of right.
Breach of Contract — Statute of Limitations
6 years
From date of breach
If you miss it: Your claim is time-barred and cannot be filed.
Personal Injury — Statute of Limitations
6 years
From date of injury
If you miss it: Your claim is time-barred and cannot be filed.
Medical Malpractice — Statute of Limitations
4 years
From date of negligent act (with discovery rule)
If you miss it: Your claim is time-barred and cannot be filed.
Wrongful Death — Statute of Limitations
3 years
From date of death
If you miss it: Your claim is time-barred and cannot be filed.
Defamation — Statute of Limitations
2 years
From date of publication
If you miss it: Your claim is time-barred and cannot be filed.
Workers' Compensation Claim
3 years
From date of injury or last payment of benefits
If you miss it: Your claim is time-barred and you may lose all benefits.
Workers' Compensation — Report Injury to Employer
180 days
From date of injury
If you miss it: Failure to report may be used to deny your claim.
Unemployment Benefits — Appeal of Determination
20 days
After mailing date of determination
If you miss it: The determination becomes final; benefits may be denied or overpayment assessed.
Wage Theft — Civil Action
2 years (3 years if willful)
From date wages were due
If you miss it: Your claim for unpaid wages is time-barred.
Expungement — Waiting Period (Petty Misdemeanor/Misdemeanor)
2 years
After discharge of sentence
If you miss it: You must wait the full period before petitioning.
Expungement — Waiting Period (Gross Misdemeanor)
4 years
After discharge of sentence
If you miss it: You must wait the full period before petitioning.
Expungement — Waiting Period (Certain Felonies)
5 years
After discharge of sentence
If you miss it: You must wait the full period before petitioning.
Appeal from District Court
60 days
After entry of judgment or order
If you miss it: You lose the right to appeal.
Property Tax Petition
April 30
After taxes become due and payable
If you miss it: You cannot challenge the valuation or classification for that year.
Name Change — Hearing
Minimum 30 days
After filing petition
If you miss it: No consequence for petitioner — this is the minimum wait before the hearing can be held.
Harassment Restraining Order — Hearing
14 days
After petition is filed
If you miss it: Temporary order may expire if hearing is not held.
Child Support — Motion to Modify
No fixed deadline (but act promptly)
After substantial change in circumstances
If you miss it: Modification is generally not retroactive before the date of the motion.
Rent Escrow — Filing
No fixed deadline (rent must be current)
After notifying landlord of habitability issue
If you miss it: You must be current on rent or deposit it with the court to file.
Property Damage — Statute of Limitations
6 years
From date of damage
If you miss it: Your claim is time-barred and cannot be filed.
Fraud — Statute of Limitations
6 years
From date fraud was discovered or should have been discovered
If you miss it: Your claim is time-barred and cannot be filed.
DUI — Implied Consent Challenge
60 days
After notice of license revocation
If you miss it: You lose the right to challenge the license revocation.
Criminal — Speedy Trial Demand
60 days (felony/gross misdemeanor, Rule 11.09); 10 days (misdemeanor in custody, Rule 6.06)
After demand is filed
Minn. Stat. § Minn. R. Crim. P. 11.09 / 6.06
If you miss it: If the state fails to bring the case to trial within the demand period, the charges must be dismissed with prejudice.
LLC Annual Renewal
December 31 annually
By December 31 each year
If you miss it: The LLC may be administratively dissolved by the Secretary of State.
Mechanic's Lien — Filing
120 days
After last date of furnishing labor or materials
If you miss it: You lose the right to file a mechanic's lien.
Civil Lawsuit — Answer
20 days
After being served with a summons and complaint
If you miss it: A default judgment may be entered against you.
Custody Motion — Response
30 days
After being served with custody motion
If you miss it: The court may rule based only on the other parent's request.
Bankruptcy — Credit Counseling Requirement
Within 180 days before filing
Before filing bankruptcy petition
Minn. Stat. § 11 U.S.C. § 109(h)
If you miss it: Your bankruptcy petition may be dismissed.
Employment Discrimination — MN Dept. of Human Rights Charge
1 year
After the discriminatory act
If you miss it: You lose the right to file a charge with the state agency.
Employment Discrimination — EEOC Charge (Federal)
300 days (MN is a deferral state)
After the discriminatory act
Minn. Stat. § 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)
If you miss it: You lose the right to file a federal discrimination charge. Filing with MDHR or EEOC can satisfy both under their work-sharing agreement.
Harassment Restraining Order — Filing
No fixed deadline (but act promptly)
After harassment occurs
If you miss it: The court may find delay undermines the urgency of the petition.
Divorce — Minimum Waiting Period
30 days minimum
After service of summons and petition
If you miss it: No consequence for petitioner — court cannot finalize divorce before this period.
Government Entity — Notice of Claim
180 days
After injury or death caused by a government entity
If you miss it: You may be barred from suing the government entity.
Employee — Personnel File Access
Employer must provide within 7 working days
Written request to employer
If you miss it: Employer may be subject to penalties for noncompliance.
Final Paycheck — After Termination
Within 24 hours of demand
After employee is fired or laid off
If you miss it: Employee may be entitled to additional penalties for late payment.
Final Paycheck — After Quitting
Next regular payday
After employee quits
If you miss it: Employer must pay by the next scheduled payday or within 20 days, whichever is earlier.
Small Estate Affidavit
30 days after death (minimum wait)
After death (if estate ≤ $75,000 and no real estate in decedent's name alone)
If you miss it: You must wait at least 30 days after death before using this simplified process.
Estate — Inventory of Assets
3 months
After appointment of personal representative
If you miss it: Failure to file may result in removal as personal representative or court sanctions.
Will — Probate Filing
No strict deadline, but act promptly
After death of the person who made the will
If you miss it: Delay may complicate estate administration and asset distribution.
Estate — Creditor Claims
120 days
After publication of notice to creditors
If you miss it: Claims not filed within 120 days may be barred.
Minnesota Estate Tax Return
9 months after death
After death (if estate exceeds ~$3 million)
If you miss it: Late filing may result in penalties and interest on estate tax owed.
Formal Probate — Filing Deadline
3 years
After death
If you miss it: After 3 years, formal probate can no longer be initiated; informal probate or other remedies may still be available.
Foreclosure — Pre-Foreclosure Notice
60 days
Before lender can start foreclosure proceedings
If you miss it: Lender must provide this notice with housing counseling information. Failure to do so may be a defense to foreclosure.
Foreclosure — Right to Reinstate
Before sheriff's sale
Any time before the sheriff's sale
If you miss it: After the sale, you can no longer reinstate — you must redeem at the full sale price.
Foreclosure — Redemption Period (Residential)
6 months
After sheriff's sale
If you miss it: After the redemption period expires, you lose all rights to the property.
Foreclosure — Redemption Period (Agricultural 40+ Acres)
12 months
After sheriff's sale
If you miss it: After the redemption period expires, you lose all rights to the property.
Foreclosure — Shortened Redemption (Abandoned Property)
5 weeks
After sheriff's sale (if property declared abandoned)
If you miss it: You must respond to the abandonment notice to preserve the full redemption period.
Asylum Application
1 year
After last arrival in the United States
Minn. Stat. § 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B)
If you miss it: You may be barred from asylum unless you qualify for a limited exception (changed or extraordinary circumstances).
DACA Renewal Application
150 days before expiration (recommended)
Before current DACA status expires
If you miss it: Late filing may result in a gap in work authorization and protection from deportation.
ICE Detainer — Hold Period
48 hours
After scheduled release from local custody
Minn. Stat. § 8 C.F.R. § 287.7(d)
If you miss it: Local law enforcement is generally expected to release you if ICE does not take custody within 48 hours.
Board of Immigration Appeals — Appeal
30 days
After immigration judge's decision
Minn. Stat. § 8 C.F.R. § 1003.38(b)
If you miss it: The immigration judge's order becomes final; removal may be carried out.
COBRA — Continuation Election
60 days from qualifying event or coverage loss notice (whichever later)
After qualifying event (termination, hours reduction, divorce, etc.)
Minn. Stat. § 29 USC 1166
If you miss it: Lose right to continue employer health insurance coverage.
Vehicle Accident — Officer Report
10 days
After investigating a reportable accident
If you miss it: Officer must submit report to commissioner of public safety.
Vehicle Accident — Insurance Information
72 hours
After a vehicle accident, upon request
If you miss it: Failure to provide insurance information as required.
Emergency Guardianship — Maximum Duration
60 days (one 60-day extension available)
After appointment of emergency guardian
If you miss it: Emergency guardianship expires; must petition for regular guardianship.
Guardianship — Annual Report
Within 30 days of anniversary (show cause at 60 days)
Anniversary of guardian's appointment
If you miss it: Court will issue order to show cause. Guardian may be removed.
Guardianship — Notice to Person
14 days
After appointment of guardian
If you miss it: Guardian must send order of appointment and notice of right to appeal.
Municipal Notice of Claim
180 days (1 year for wrongful death)
After discovery of injury or loss caused by a municipality
If you miss it: May be barred from suing the municipality.
Adoption — Consent Withdrawal
10 working days
After signing adoption consent
If you miss it: After 10 working days, consent becomes irrevocable (except fraud).