When you’ve survived sexual abuse, the idea of “running out of time to take legal action” can feel unfair. Connecticut law recognizes that many survivors need years or even decades before they’re ready to consider civil action.
At the same time, filing deadlines still matter, and the rules are different depending on your age when the abuse happened, whether the abuser was criminally convicted, and who you’re suing (an individual, an institution, or both). This guide lays out those deadlines in plain language so you can understand how the law applies to you and decide what’s right for you.
Key Takeaways About Connecticut Filing Deadlines
- Childhood & young-adult abuse (when you were under 21):
Connecticut law provides a long filing window. For incidents that occurred on or after October 1, 2019, you may file a civil lawsuit until your 51st birthday (that’s 30 years after turning 21). For older incidents, earlier law generally allowed filing until your 48th birthday (30 years after turning 18). - Adult sexual assault (age 21 or older) without a criminal conviction:
Most civil claims follow Connecticut’s general tort deadline of 3 years from the act. Don’t assume you can wait until you discover the link between the abuse and your injuries. Connecticut’s general rule measures from the date of the conduct, not when you connected the dots later. - No time limit if the abuser was convicted of specific crimes:
If the person you’re suing was criminally convicted of first-degree sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault in the first degree, you can bring your civil case at any time. No statute of limitations applies to that civil claim. - Institutional liability is possible:
Survivors can often sue organizations (schools, churches, youth programs, employers) that enabled or failed to stop the abuse. Connecticut courts have recognized that the extended childhood-abuse deadline can apply to negligence claims against institutions, with some case-specific exceptions (for example, claims framed as medical malpractice can be treated differently). - No statewide “lookback window”:
As of September 30, 2025, Connecticut has not enacted a broad revival window that reopens already-expired civil claims statewide (unlike some other states). Deadlines above still govern.
How Connecticut’s Filing Deadlines Work
1) If the abuse happened when you were under 21
Connecticut’s childhood-abuse law covers anyone abused while under the age of 21. The filing window depends on when the abuse occurred:
- For incidents on or after October 1, 2019:
You can file until age 51 (30 years after your 21st birthday). This expansion is part of a 2019 reform.
Example: You were 20 when the abuse occurred in 2022. You turn 21 in 2023. Your filing deadline is your 51st birthday in 2053. - For incidents before October 1, 2019:
Earlier law generally allowed filing until age 48 (30 years after turning 18). Some courts and commentators have discussed allowing expansions over time; however, if your abuse pre-dated 10/1/2019, you should talk to an attorney right away to confirm what the older version of the law means for your exact dates.
Why does Connecticut law talk about survivors who were “under 21” at the time of the abuse?
Connecticut intentionally extended protection to late-teen and young adult survivors because legislators recognized that abuse can occur during the first years of college or while someone is still transitioning to adulthood. If you were 18, 19, or 20 at the time, the extended deadline can still apply.
Who can you sue?
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your situation, you may be eligible to bring legal action against a variety of defendants, including:
- The perpetrator, for intentional torts like assault/battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- Institutions that negligently enabled abuse, whether by negligent hiring, retention, supervision, failure to report, or failure to enforce policies. Connecticut’s high court has recognized that the extended limitation period for children and under-21 survivors can apply to negligence claims against institutions—a crucial path to accountability when organizations fail to keep you safe.
Important nuance for medical settings:
When claims are framed as medical malpractice (for example, sexual touching disguised as a “medical exam”), courts have held that medical-negligence deadlines may apply instead of the childhood-abuse statute. If your abuse involved a healthcare provider, your lawyer will analyze whether to plead under the abuse statute, the malpractice statute, or both.
2) If the abuse happened when you were 21 or older
Connecticut doesn’t have a special, longer civil deadline for adult survivors in most situations. However, two very different rules can apply:
A) No time limit after certain criminal convictions
If the person you’re suing was criminally convicted of first-degree sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault in the first degree, you may file your civil case at any time—even decades later. The civil statute of limitations does not apply in that situation.
B) Otherwise, the general tort deadline controls
If there’s no qualifying conviction, adult sexual assault civil claims typically fall under Connecticut’s three-year limitations period for torts, which runs from the date of the act. This is shorter than many people expect, and Connecticut generally uses an occurrence rule.
This means the clock starts with the abuse, not when you later recognize or discover the harm. Do not assume a discovery-rule extension will save a late filing. Talk to an experienced abuse lawyer to get individualized advice as soon as possible.
Tip: Even if the 3-year period for an intentional assault claim has passed, other claim theories (like negligent security against a property owner) may still be available within their own timeframes. A lawyer can analyze your case to determine all potential defendants and deadlines.
What About a Discovery Rule, Extensions, or Tolling?
Again, depending on the unique facts surrounding your situation, other relevant laws may apply that extend or reduce your ability to file a civil abuse lawsuit. Let’s look at a few examples:
Childhood & Under-21 Cases:
Connecticut’s statute gives you a fixed outer deadline (30 years after 21 for post-10/1/2019 incidents; historically 30 years after 18 for earlier incidents). It doesn’t require repressed memory or a formal “discovery” event. You do not need to prove when you learned of the connection between abuse and harm to use this timeline.
Adult Cases Without a Qualifying Criminal Conviction:
Connecticut’s general tort statute is measured from the abusive act itself. In other words, don’t count on the window of opportunity beginning when you discover the connection between the abuse and your injuries. Many states recognize that survivors often don’t understand or report the true impact of the abuse due to various factors and have extended their filing deadlines to account for these issues. Sadly, Connecticut is not one of those states.
What About Multiple Incidents of Abuse? When Does the Clock Start Ticking?
If there was a pattern of abuse over time, your legal team will evaluate each date, the overall course of conduct, and how the statute treats serial or continuing acts. They can then explain when you can file the case within the earliest applicable deadline to protect all claims.
Is There a Connecticut “Lookback Window”?
Some states pass special laws temporarily reviving long-expired claims for everyone. These are often called lookback windows. Connecticut has not enacted a broad, statewide civil revival window. Your rights are governed by the deadlines described above.
Who Can You Hold Accountable For Your Losses?
Depending on the facts of the claim, survivors often have the right to bring claims against more than one party, including:
- Against individuals who committed the abuse, for intentional torts, there is no civil deadline if there’s a qualifying criminal conviction.
- Against institutions that enabled or failed to prevent abuse, for claims of negligent hiring, retention, or supervision of an employee; failure to protect; failure to follow mandatory-reporting or safety protocols, or other legal claims. The extended childhood/under-21 statute can apply to these negligence claims, with case-specific exceptions, such as claims framed as medical malpractice.
- Against property owners or businesses for negligent security and premises liability when assaults occur in apartments, hotels, rideshares, workplaces, or other commercial settings. Deadlines may differ depending on the claim theory, and your attorney should calendar all applicable clocks.
What Financial Compensation Can You Recover?
While every case is unique, civil lawsuits can seek compensation for:
- Therapy and mental-health care (counseling, medications, trauma-informed treatment)
- Medical expenses now and in the future
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Punitive damages in appropriate cases to punish exceptionally wrongful behavior
- Non-monetary relief, such as policy changes or training obligations, is sometimes negotiated as part of a settlement with institutions.
How to Protect Your Rights Today
- Understand your filing deadline now. A quick free conversation with a trauma-informed lawyer can confirm your exact filing requirements under Connecticut law, especially if incidents span different years or multiple states.
- Preserve evidence. Save texts, emails, DMs, photos, journals, class schedules, HR reports, medical records, and any documents showing where you were and who had responsibility for your safety.
- Consider claims against both the person and the institution. Accountability often means suing both the abuser and the organization that failed to protect you. This can expand your paths to justice and compensation.
- If there was a criminal case, tell your attorney. A qualifying conviction may eliminate any civil time limit against that person, even if many years have passed.
- Care for yourself. Your legal team can move at your pace. A survivor-focused team will prioritize your privacy and safety planning throughout the process.
FAQs About Connecticut Filing Deadlines
Can I sue anonymously in Connecticut?
Courts can allow filing under a pseudonym (for example, “Jane Doe”) where privacy interests outweigh public disclosure. Your attorney can request this and propose protective orders to limit access to sensitive information. Judges decide case by case, but anonymity is commonly granted in sexual-abuse matters.
Does the longer childhood/under-21 deadline also apply if I’m suing a school, church, or youth group?
Often, yes. Connecticut’s Supreme Court has recognized that the extended limitation period can apply to negligence claims against institutions that failed to protect children, although there are exceptions. A knowledgeable lawyer will match your facts to the right statute.
What if there’s an ongoing criminal investigation—should I wait to file a civil case?
Not necessarily. Civil and criminal cases are separate. If a criminal case is pending, your attorney will coordinate timing to protect your rights and safety. And remember: If the abuser is later convicted of a qualifying offense, there’s no time limit for filing a civil lawsuit against that person.
I was 19 or 20 when it happened—do I count as a “minor”?
Connecticut’s statute explicitly protects anyone abused while under 21. For incidents on or after October 1, 2019, you typically have until age 51 to sue. For earlier incidents, older law—usually requiring filing before age 48—may apply. An attorney can quickly confirm which version covers your dates.
What if I’m not sure who I can sue?
That’s common. A skilled legal team can identify all responsible parties, including individuals, organizations, and property owners. Sometimes the strongest case is against the institution that enabled the abuse by ignoring red flags or breaking safety rules.
Contact the Team at File Abuse Lawsuit to Learn More
Whether the abuse happened months ago or decades ago, you deserve clear answers and kind, skilled advocacy. At File Abuse Lawsuit, we’ll help you understand your options, protect your privacy, and move forward on the right timeline.
Call File Abuse Lawsuit today at (209) 283-2205 for a free, confidential consultation. We are dedicated to abuse survivors, and we’re here to listen to your story.