2026 California Statute of Limitations Guide for Sexual Abuse Survivors

Survivors shouldn’t need a law degree to understand how long they have to file a sexual abuse claim in California.

What did California AB 452 change? Assembly Bill 452, effective January 1, 2024, eliminated the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault that occurs on or after January 1, 2024. Survivors of abuse that happened before that date are still subject to the older deadlines, generally until age 40 or within 5 years of discovering the harm.

California has expanded the time available to many survivors, but the deadline depends on several factors: whether the abuse happened when you were a child or an adult, when it occurred, when you discovered the connection between the abuse and your injuries, and whether a special revival window applies.

That means an older claim is not necessarily a closed claim.

This guide explains California’s major sexual abuse statutes of limitations in plain language, including civil filing deadlines, criminal statutes of limitations, revival windows, confidentiality agreements and sexual assault evidence-kit protections.

California Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Abuse

California now treats newer childhood sexual abuse claims differently from older ones.

Abuse Occurring on or After January 1, 2024

California no longer imposes a civil statute of limitations on childhood sexual assault that occurred on or after January 1, 2024.

That means you do not lose the right to file a civil claim simply because a certain number of years have passed.

The change came through Assembly Bill 452 (opens in a new tab) and applies prospectively to abuse occurring beginning January 1, 2024.

Abuse Occurring Before January 1, 2024

If the abuse occurred before January 1, 2024, the older filing rules still apply.

Generally, you may have until age 40 to file a civil claim, or five years from when you discovered — or reasonably should have discovered — that psychological injury or illness was caused by childhood sexual abuse.

That second rule reflects the fact that the connection between childhood abuse and its effects may not become clear until years later.

So if you are over 40, do not automatically assume you are out of time. Whether the discovery rule or another exception applies depends on the facts of your case.

California’s Earlier Revival Window Has Closed

California previously opened a three-year revival window under AB 218 that allowed many childhood sexual abuse claims to be filed even if the original deadline had already passed.

That window ran from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022 and is now closed.

But the end of the revival window does not mean every older claim is barred. Depending on when the abuse occurred and when its effects were discovered, other filing rules may still leave you with time to bring a claim.

California Statute of Limitations for Adult Sexual Assault

If the sexual assault happened after you turned 18, California generally gives you until the later of:

• 10 years from the date of the last qualifying assault; or
• three years from when you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, that an injury or illness resulted from the assault.

These deadlines are set out in California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.16 (opens in a new tab).

California’s 2026–2027 Revival Window for Adult Sexual Assault Claims

California opened a new revival window on January 1, 2026 for certain adult sexual assault claims that would otherwise be too old to file.

Eligible claims may be brought through December 31, 2027.

The window may also apply to claims against private entities (such as a rideshare company or private employer) that are alleged to share legal responsibility for the harm connected to the assault.

But it does not reopen every older claim. Claims that were already fully litigated or resolved through certain written settlement agreements may be excluded, and different rules can apply when a public entity is involved.

Remember that this is a temporary window. If you have an older adult sexual assault claim, do not assume you have unlimited time to decide whether to act.

California Criminal Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault

California has eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for several serious felony sex offenses. For qualifying crimes, prosecutors may bring charges at any time.

But that rule does not apply retroactively in every case. Generally, it covers qualifying offenses committed on or after January 1, 2017, as well as certain older offenses whose previous filing deadline had not yet expired when the law changed.

Other sex offenses may still have different criminal deadlines.

Because only prosecutors can file criminal charges, the applicable statute of limitations depends on the specific offense and when it occurred.

California NDA Laws for Sexual Misconduct and Abuse

California limits how confidentiality agreements and NDAs can be used to prevent people from discussing sexual misconduct and other unlawful workplace conduct.

Under the 2018 STAND Act, SB 820 (opens in a new tab), settlement agreements generally cannot prevent someone from disclosing factual information related to claims involving sexual assault, sexual harassment and certain related misconduct. A survivor may still choose to keep their own identity confidential, and settlement amounts can generally remain private.

California expanded those protections with Senate Bill 331, the “Silenced No More Act, (opens in a new tab)” which took effect January 1, 2022. It restricts non-disclosure and non-disparagement provisions in employment agreements involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

In practical terms, an employer generally cannot use an NDA, settlement or separation agreement to stop someone from discussing facts about unlawful conduct covered by these laws.

That does not mean every confidentiality provision is invalid. Agreements may still protect trade secrets, proprietary information and other legitimate confidential business information.

If you signed an NDA or settlement agreement and are unsure what you are allowed to say, do not assume the agreement is enforceable just because it is in writing. The answer can depend on when it was signed, what type of agreement it is and what conduct it covers.

California Sexual Assault Kit Testing and Tracking Rules

California law sets deadlines for how sexual assault forensic evidence must be handled after it is collected.

Law enforcement generally must submit the evidence to a crime lab within 20 days after it is booked into evidence.

The crime lab generally has 120 days after receiving the evidence to process it, create a DNA profile when possible and upload qualifying DNA information to CODIS.

Survivors can also check the status of a sexual assault evidence kit through the California Department of Justice’s tracking system (opens in a new tab). The portal can show whether the kit has been received, sent to a crime lab or processed.

Key Takeaways for California Sexual Abuse & Assault Survivors

California gives many survivors more time to bring sexual abuse claims than it did in the past. However, the rules now depend heavily on when the abuse occurred and the survivor’s age at the time.

The main points are:

California also gives survivors rights related to the submission, testing and tracking of sexual assault evidence kits.

• Childhood sexual assault occurring on or after January 1, 2024 has no civil statute of limitations.
• Older childhood sexual abuse claims may still be governed by the age-40 deadline and five-year discovery rule.
• Adult survivors generally have 10 years from the assault or three years from discovery, whichever is later.
• A temporary revival window running through December 31, 2027 may allow certain previously expired adult sexual assault claims to be filed.
• Many serious felony sex offenses no longer have a criminal statute of limitations, although the rule depends on the offense and when it occurred.

Frequently Asked Questions About California Sexual Abuse Deadlines

How long do I have to file a sexual abuse lawsuit in California?

It depends on your age when the abuse occurred, when it happened and which law applies. Childhood sexual abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2024 generally has no civil statute of limitations. Older childhood claims and adult sexual assault claims follow different deadlines, and revival laws may also reopen certain older claims.

Is there a statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse in California?

For childhood sexual abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2024, California generally has no civil filing deadline. For earlier abuse, survivors may generally have until age 40 or five years from discovering that psychological injury or illness was caused by the abuse.

What is California’s 2026–2027 sexual assault revival window?

California opened a temporary revival window from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 for certain adult sexual assault claims that would otherwise be time-barred. Not every claim qualifies, so eligibility depends on the circumstances.

Can I still file a claim if the abuse happened many years ago?

Possibly. California’s discovery rules and revival laws may allow some survivors to file claims many years after the abuse occurred. The fact that the abuse happened decades ago does not necessarily mean you are out of time.

Can an NDA stop me from talking about sexual abuse in California?

Not always. California laws including SB 820 and SB 331 limit certain confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions involving sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Whether a particular NDA is enforceable can depend on when it was signed, what type of agreement it is and what it covers.

Is there a criminal statute of limitations for sexual assault in California?

For many serious felony sex offenses, California no longer imposes a criminal statute of limitations. Other offenses may still have deadlines, and the applicable rule can depend on the offense and when it occurred. Criminal charges are brought by prosecutors, not by survivors themselves.