What is the limitation period for civil claims?
The general limitation period is three years from the day the right could first be exercised. There is also an objective limit of ten years. Once a claim is time-barred, the debtor can raise limitation as a defence and the court will reject the claim even if it is otherwise valid.
Under the Civil Code (Act No. 89/2012) the general subjective limitation period is three years, running from when the right could first be exercised.
An objective limitation period of ten years also applies, running from when the right became due, regardless of the creditor's knowledge.
The parties can agree a different period within limits. Limitation must be raised as a defence; the court does not apply it on its own initiative.
This text is general and informative and is drawn from publicly available laws of the Czech Republic. It does not replace individual legal advice from an advocate. Before deciding a specific matter, we recommend consulting a qualified lawyer.