Yes. In Connecticut, you can sue someone who sexually abused or molested you as a child, and most survivors have decades to do it. The civil deadline is far longer than for other injury claims, and the lawsuit can also name the school, church, or organization that allowed the abuse.
In Connecticut, most survivors who were abused before age 21 can file a civil lawsuit until 30 years after their 21st birthday, which means age 51. That extended deadline applies to abuse on or after October 1, 2019, and it covers claims against the abuser and against the school, church, or organization that allowed the abuse to happen. Survivors abused as adults, and survivors abused before October 2019, face different rules.
Here is how each deadline works, in the order people actually ask about them.
Can You Sue Someone Who Molested You as a Child in Connecticut?
Under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-577d, a person who was under 21 at the time of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or sexual assault may bring a civil action until 30 years after turning 21. In practice, that is age 51.
This is the result of a 2019 law (Public Act 19-16) that raised both the age cutoff, from 18 to 21, and the length of the window. It reflects what research and experience both show: most survivors of childhood abuse do not come forward for decades, if at all.
Two points people often get wrong:
- It is not 30 years from the abuse. The 30 years runs from the survivor’s 21st birthday, no matter when the abuse happened before that.
- It is not limited to the abuser. Negligence claims against the institution responsible for the abuser’s access to children fall under the same extended deadline. See below.
Abused Before October 1, 2019: A Different Analysis
The 2019 law applies to abuse that occurred on or after October 1, 2019. For abuse before that date, the deadline analysis is different and depends heavily on the specific dates and facts.
The prior version of the statute generally allowed a survivor to file until 30 years past the age of majority, which means age 48, and Connecticut’s Supreme Court has upheld applying the extended deadline to claims that would otherwise have been time-barred.
Either way, the practical answer is the same: abuse decades ago can still support a claim, and the only way to know is a date-specific review. Do not talk yourself out of a claim because of the calendar.
The Deadline Applies to Institutions, Not Just the Abuser
The extended deadline governs actions for injury caused by sexual abuse, which includes negligence claims against the organization that hired, supervised, or retained the abuser. Connecticut’s Supreme Court upheld a jury verdict against the Hartford diocese itself for negligently assigning a priest to a school where he abused a student, and rejected the argument that applying the extended deadline to that claim was unconstitutional.
In most cases the institutional claim is the one that matters, because the abuser often has no assets or has died, and because the institution is where the decisions were made. Who can be held responsible, and on what basis, is covered in our guide to suing institutions for sexual abuse in Connecticut.
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If the Abuser Was Criminally Convicted: No Deadline
Under § 52-577e, a civil action against a person who has been convicted of first-degree sexual assault or aggravated first-degree sexual assault may be brought at any time. There is no limitation period. A conviction on those charges removes the deadline entirely for the claim against that person.
Abused as an Adult: A Much Shorter Window
If the survivor was 21 or older at the time of the abuse, the extended deadline does not apply. The claim generally falls under Connecticut’s three-year statute for intentional torts, § 52-577, which runs from the date of the act. Where abuse was repeated, the analysis of when the period runs depends on the facts. Three years is short in a sexual abuse case, and it is the single most common reason adult survivors lose the ability to sue. If you were abused as an adult, the time to call is now, not when you feel ready.
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Criminal Deadlines Are Separate
The deadlines above are for civil lawsuits, where the survivor seeks compensation. Criminal prosecution is brought by the state and has its own limitation periods, which depend on the offense, the victim’s age, and whether DNA evidence identifies the offender. A civil claim does not depend on a criminal case: a survivor can sue even if the abuser was never charged, and even after an acquittal, because the civil standard of proof is lower.
Offenses With a Criminal Deadline
- Misdemeanor: generally 10 years for fourth-degree sexual assault where the victim was at least 21 and the offense is a class A misdemeanor, under Public Act 19-16.
- Felonies against adult victims: a 20-year period applies to specified felony sexual assault offenses where the victim was 21 or older, including sexual assault in a spousal or cohabiting relationship, third-degree sexual assault (class D felony), second- and third-degree sexual assault with a firearm (class C felony), and first-degree and aggravated first-degree sexual assault where classified as a class B felony, unless the offense falls under a no-limit rule.
Offenses With No Criminal Deadline
Connecticut imposes no time limit on prosecuting the most serious sexual offenses, including these class A felonies:
| Crime | Statute | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| First-degree sexual assault | CGS § 53a-70 | Force or threat of force with victim under 16; or victim under 13 and offender more than two years older |
| First-degree aggravated sexual assault | CGS § 53a-70a | Victim under 16 |
| Aggravated sexual assault of a minor | CGS § 53a-70c | |
| Commercial sexual abuse of a minor | CGS § 53a-83b | Victim under 15 |
| Trafficking in persons | CGS § 53a-192a | |
| Employing minors in obscene performances | CGS § 53a-196a |
Connecticut also imposes no criminal time limit on sexual abuse, assault, or exploitation offenses against minors, and a deadline may not apply to certain sexual assault offenses where the victim reported to law enforcement or a prosecutor within five years and the offender is identified by conclusive DNA evidence.
Suspected abuse of a child can be reported at any time to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families Careline.
What to Do If You Are Not Sure Which Deadline Applies
Call. The deadline depends on how old you were, when the abuse occurred, who the defendant is, and whether there was a conviction. Those are questions a lawyer can answer in one confidential conversation. What you should not do is assume the deadline has passed. Connecticut’s extended windows exist precisely because survivors come forward late, and evidence against institutions often lives in their own records rather than in anyone’s memory.
Baber Law represents survivors of sexual abuse across Connecticut on a contingency basis. There is no fee unless we recover for you, and the consultation is free and confidential. Contact us or call 1-855-285-3425.
This page explains Connecticut law generally. It is not legal advice about your situation, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Filing deadlines depend on the specific dates and facts of what happened. If you have questions about your own circumstances, speak with a lawyer confidentially.
