Statute of Repose

A legal time limit that bars claims after a fixed number of years from the date of the act or omission giving rise to the claim, regardless of when the injury was discovered. Unlike a statute of limitations, which may be extended by the discovery rule, a statute of repose establishes an absolute outer boundary for bringing claims. In legal malpractice, statutes of repose vary by state and can range from six to fifteen years, providing a definitive end to an attorney's exposure for past work.