What is the difference between a limitation period and a strict time limit?

A limitation period stops and resets; the court cannot apply it of its own motion and the debtor must raise it as a defence. A strict time limit does not stop or reset, is applied by the court of its own motion, and extinguishes the right itself on expiry.

I have missed the deadline — is there nothing I can do?

It depends. Improper service, force majeure or late objection may come into play. Where the criminal limitation period applies, the deadline may also be longer than expected.

Time Limit and Limitation Checker

A significant share of lost cases are lost not on the merits but on time. Enter the date of your event and this tool shows how much of the relevant period has passed and how much is left.

Critical deadlines you meet most often

Subject	Period	Runs from
Complaint for offences prosecuted on complaint	6 months	Learning of the offence and offender
Application to a mediator for reinstatement	1 month	Service of the notice of termination
Objection to enforcement (without judgment)	7 days	Service of the payment order
Objection in negotiable instrument proceedings	5 days	Service of the payment order
Renunciation of inheritance	3 months	Learning of the death and of being an heir
Action against an administrative act	60 days	Service of the act
Action against a tax or penalty notice	30 days	Service of the notice
Challenge to a deportation decision	7 days	Service of the decision
Right of pre-emption	3 months / 1 year (2 years for sales before 25.12.2025)	Notification of the sale / date of sale
Limitation on employment claims	5 years	Date of termination
Compensation in tort	2 years / 10 years	Learning of the loss / date of the act
Action for abatement	1 year / 10 years	Learning of the impairment of the reserved share
Appeal to the regional court	2 weeks	Service of the reasoned judgment

Warning: This table is general information. When a period starts, whether service was proper, and the cases in which time stops or resets all vary with the file. If your deadline is close, seek legal help without delay.

Time Limit and Limitation Checker

Time limit check

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Critical deadlines you meet most often

Questions about this tool