In Cyprus, the timeframes for bringing actionable claims are governed by the Limitation of Actionable Rights Law of 2012 (66(I)/2012), as amended (the “Law”). This law sets out the specific rules and periods within which, a party must file a claim, depending on the type of legal right/action involved. If proceedings are initiated, beyond the prescribed timeframe, it may be procedurally barred from being enforced, provided the defendant raises the defence of limitation.
| Causes of Action | Limitation Period (from the date of completion of the basis of the claim) | Notes | Limitation of Actionable Rights Law of 2012 (66 (I)/2012) – Article |
General Limitation Period
| 10 years | Unless specified otherwise by other law(s) | Article 4 |
| Mortgages and Pledges | 12 years | Covers various claims, including the repossession of mortgaged or pledged properties. | Article 5(1) & 5(2) |
| Torts | 6 years | Article 6 | |
| Negligence, Nuisance, or Breach of Statutory Duty | 3 years | If the civil wrong involved personal injury and the Claimant becomes aware of it at a later date, the limitation period begins from the date the plaintiff discovers the injury. | Article 6(2) |
| Defamation or Malicious Falsehood | 1 year | Article 6(4) | |
| Contracts (General) | 6 years | Unless stated otherwise by other law(s) | |
| Contracts or Quasi-Contracts for Professional Fees (e.g., advocates, medical practitioners, dentists, architects, civil engineers) | 3 years | Applies to claims for remuneration, fees, or charges due to professionals for their services. | |
| Loan agreements which are secured by mortgage or pledge | 12 years | Article 7(3) | |
| Bills of exchange | 6 years | Applicable to: i) any debt referred to in a book, which is owed by or to a credit institution, ii) bills of exchange, cheques, promissory notes and bonds in customary form; andiii) any debt from or to a credit institution or an individual carrying on a financial business arising from a hire purchase, purchase or discounting of receivables, finance lease, use of a credit card, overdrafts on accounts and in general from anything that from time to time presents itself as a bank or other similar product other than loans. | Article 8 |
| Inheritance / Wills | 8 years | If the claimant was absent abroad, the limitation period is not completed, except after one year has passed after he became aware of, or with reasonable diligence could have become aware of, the death or returned to Cyprus. | Article 9 |
| Court judgements | 15 years | Article 10 |
The law further provides that the limitation period does not start to run or, if it has started, is suspended, in any of the following cases:
(a) Between spouses during the marriage, even if the marriage is subsequently annulled;
(b) between parents and children who are minors.
(c) between trustees and beneficiaries of a trust during the latter is a minor or, if the beneficiary has not been born, until he is born and becomes of age;
(d) between executors or administrators of the deceased’s estate and heirs or legatees of the deceased during the time latter are still minors; and
(e) between cohabiting and cohabiting partners during cohabitation.
Admiralty and carriage of goods claims are governed by separate provisions under specific legislation or international Conventions which Cyprus has ratified, depending on the type of claim.
📄 Written by: Christos Kastanias