About howlongdoes.app

Why this site exists

Legal deadlines in the United States are almost impossible to look up quickly. Every state has different rules — different statutes of limitations, different notice periods, different waiting times. A traffic ticket stays on your record for 3 years in one state and 10 in another. A personal injury claim must be filed within 1 year in Kentucky but 6 in Maine. A landlord must return your security deposit in 14 days in New York and 60 days in Alabama.

Most people find out about these deadlines too late — after a claim is barred, after a deposit dispute is lost, after a right to respond expires. The information exists in state statutes, but reading statutes is not something most people can do quickly, or at all, under pressure.

howlongdoes.app was built to fix that. One question, one state, one clear answer — with the source statute so you can verify it yourself. No law school required.

What we cover

The site currently covers 15 of the most common legal deadline questions, across all 50 US states plus the District of Columbia:

How to use this site

  1. Choose a topic from the home page grid. Each card covers one common legal question.
  2. Select your state from the dropdown. Results appear immediately — no page reload.
  3. Read the answer and the statute citation so you can verify it with your state's official source or confirm it with an attorney.
  4. Act promptly. Legal deadlines are strict. Even one day late can bar a valid claim.

Accuracy and limitations

Every answer on this site is sourced from state statutes and official government resources. We update the data when we become aware of legislative changes, but we cannot guarantee real-time accuracy. Laws change — sometimes quietly. A bill passed in January may change a statute of limitations by several months. A court decision may alter how a rule is interpreted.

This site is a starting point, not a finishing line. Before relying on any answer for an actual legal situation, verify it with your state's official statutes, a licensed attorney, or your state's relevant agency. This is especially important for time-sensitive matters like lawsuit filing deadlines and workers' comp notices.

Frequently asked questions

Is this legal advice?

No. howlongdoes.app is a quick reference guide only. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice, creates an attorney-client relationship, or should be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with a licensed attorney. See our full disclaimer.

How current is the data?

Data is sourced from state statutes at time of publication and updated when legislative changes are confirmed. Some states change laws frequently; others have rules that have been stable for decades. Always verify with the cited statute before acting on any deadline shown here.

Why don't the answers show a specific date?

Because the answers depend on when an event occurred — when you were injured, when you were served with a lawsuit, when you left the job. We give you the duration; apply it to your own timeline. If you are unsure how to count the days, ask a licensed attorney in your state.

My state's answer looks wrong. What should I do?

Laws change and we may not have caught a recent amendment. Please contact us with the correction and the statute reference — we will verify and update promptly.

Do you collect personal data?

No. We do not have user accounts, logins, or contact forms on the tool pages. The contact form on contact.html is processed by Formspree. Analytics are handled by Google Analytics 4. Advertising is served by Google AdSense. See our privacy policy for full details.