16/10/2026
Did you know your legal claim has an expiry date?
In South Africa, most civil claims prescribe after 3 years. That means if you do not take legal action within 3 years of becoming aware of a claim, you could lose your right to sue, permanently.
It does not matter how strong your case is. Once prescription runs, it runs.
Common claims people leave too long:
Unpaid invoices and debts
Breach of contract
Damages from an accident or injury
Prescription begins running from the date you knew (or should have known) who to sue and what the claim is based on. Certain circumstances can interrupt or delay it β but you should never rely on that.
If something happened and you are unsure whether it is too late, get advice sooner rather than later.
π 010 880 2474
π warrenerdeagrela.law