Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1658 Time Limitations on the Commencement of Civil Actions Arising Under Acts of Congress
Title 28 › PART V — PROCEDURE › CHAPTER 111 — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 1658
Summary
Most lawsuits under federal laws made after this rule must be started within 4 years after the claim arises, unless another law sets a different time limit. If a private suit claims fraud, deceit, manipulation, or a similar trick that breaks securities rules (as defined in the 1934 Securities Exchange Act), it must be filed within 2 years after the fraud was discovered or within 5 years after the fraud happened, whichever comes first.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §1658
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Except as otherwise provided by law, a civil action arising under an Act of Congress enacted after the date of the enactment of this section may not be commenced later than 4 years after the cause of action accrues.
(b)Notwithstanding subsection (a), a private right of action that involves a claim of fraud, deceit, manipulation, or contrivance in contravention of a regulatory requirement concerning the securities laws, as defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(47)), may be brought not later than the earlier of—
(1)2 years after the discovery of the facts constituting the violation; or
(2)5 years after such violation.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 101–650, which was approved Dec. 1, 1990.
Amendments
2002—Pub. L. 107–204 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2002 Amendment Pub. L. 107–204, title VIII, § 804(b),
July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 801, provided that: “The limitations period provided by section 1658(b) of title 28, United States Code, as added by this section, shall apply to all proceedings addressed by this section that are commenced on or after the date of enactment of this Act [
July 30, 2002].”
Effective Date
Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 313(c), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5115, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply with respect to causes of action accruing on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 1, 1990].” No Creation of Actions Pub. L. 107–204, title VIII, § 804(c), July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 801, provided that: “Nothing in this section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] shall create a new, private right of action.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
28 U.S.C. § 1658
Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102