How long do I have to bring a claim?

The Limitation Act 2010 sets the main time limits. For most money claims, such as breach of contract or negligence causing loss, the primary period is six years from the date of the act or omission on which the claim is based. There is also a late knowledge period, which gives you three years from when you discovered or should reasonably have discovered the claim, subject to a longstop of fifteen years. Different rules apply for personal injury, which is mostly handled by ACC, and building defects have their own ten-year long-stop under the Building Act 2004. Because the calculation depends on dates and the nature of the claim, take advice promptly. Do not assume you are out of time until a lawyer has looked at the facts.