In Washington, there is no deadline to file a civil lawsuit or pursue criminal charges for childhood sexual abuse that occurred on or after June 6, 2024. Most serious sexual crimes against minors can also be prosecuted at any time. For adult victims, however, civil lawsuits generally must be filed within 2–3 years, and criminal charges must be brought within 10–20 years, depending on the crime.
A sexual abuse attorney at Kayla’s Survivors can better help you understand the specific legal considerations and statutes that apply to your case. Get started with your case or get answers to legal questions by calling (800) 509-9747 or get help online from our legal team.
Together, We Can Hold Abusers Accountable…
Civil Statute of Limitations for Washington
Child survivors
New cases (after June 6, 2024):
- No time limit to sue for childhood sexual abuse
- Passed under House Bill 1618 (2024)
Older cases (before June 6, 2024):
- Victims have 3 years to file after:
- Discovering the abuse caused their injury.
- Or turning 18, whichever comes later.
- This is called the discovery rule.
- Tolling applies: the clock does not start running during childhood.
Adult Survivors
- Typically 2 years to sue for assault/battery or 3 years for personal injury claims.
- The clock usually starts at the time of the assault.
- Courts allow tolling in rare cases (e.g., intimidation, incapacity).
Criminal Statute of Limitations for Washington
Child Survivors
Since 2019, Washington removed the criminal statute of limitations for nearly all child sex crimes, including:
- Rape of a child (all degrees)
- Child molestation
- Sexual exploitation of a minor
- Custodial sexual misconduct
Prosecutors can file charges at any time, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
Adult Survivors
After 2019 reforms, longer timeframes for adult victims:
- First- or second-degree rape: 20 years.
- Third-degree rape: 10 years.
- Indecent liberties: 20 years.
Crimes committed before July 2019 remain subject to the older, shorter limits.
New in 2024: No time limit for sexual assaults by on-duty police, firefighters, or first responders.
Talk in Confidence. We’ll listen…
Additional Legal Considerations
Tolling and Discovery Rules
- For child victims:
- Civil SOL is tolled (paused) during childhood.
- Discovery rule allows lawsuits even decades later if the harm was only recently understood.
- Parents’ knowledge is not imputed to children.
- For criminal cases:
- Some offenses allow charging until the victim’s 30th birthday (e.g., incest).
- DNA and absent-defendant tolling provisions apply in some scenarios.
Lookback Windows
- Washington has not created a lookback window to revive expired claims.
- The 2024 law applies prospectively only and it does not revive old cases that were already time-barred.
Equitable Tolling
- Courts may toll the SOL if:
- The abuser intimidated or threatened the victim.
- The victim was legally or medically incapacitated.
Talk in Confidence. We’ll listen…
Notable or Proposed Changes
Recent Changes
- 2024 (HB 1618): Eliminated civil SOL for child sex abuse (prospective).
- 2024 (SB 5937): Removed criminal SOL for sexual assaults by on-duty first responders.
- 2024 (SB 6006): Eliminated criminal SOL for child trafficking and related offenses.
- 2019 (SB 5649): Removed criminal SOL for most child sex crimes and extended criminal SOL for adult rape.
Proposals Under Discussion
- Advocacy groups continue pushing for retroactive reforms to cover older cases.
- Creating a revival window to allow lawsuits for previously time-barred child abuse claims.
- Extending or eliminating civil SOL for adult sexual assault claims.
Get Help With Your Claim From Kayla’s Survivors
Washington has dramatically reformed its laws to eliminate deadlines for most child sex abuse claims and prosecutions, while extending criminal deadlines for adult victims. However, civil deadlines for adult survivors remain short, although there may be exceptions. Additional reforms may expand survivors’ rights further in the coming years. Take the next step by calling (800) 509-9747 or tell us about your case online. Our legal team is here to listen and provide support.
The sexual abuse attorneys at Kayla’s Survivors have helped recover over $1 billion for our clients, including claims settled in the state of Washington (such as Seattle, Yakima, Spokane, and surrounding areas).
