Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5521 (2026)

 Limitations on foreign claims.

✓ current as of May 2026
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SUBCHAPTER B

CIVIL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS

 

Sec.

5521.  Limitations on foreign claims.

5522.  Six months limitation.

5523.  One year limitation.

5524.  Two year limitation.

5524.1. Limitation and application for asbestos claims (Unconstitutional).

5525.  Four year limitation.

5526.  Five year limitation.

5527.  Six year limitation.

5527.1. Ten year limitation.

5527.2. Mesne profits.

5527.3. Reimbursement.

5528.  Fifteen year limitation.

5529.  Twenty year limitation.

5530.  Twenty-one year limitation.

5531.  No limitation.

5532.  Absence or concealment.

5533.  Infancy, insanity or imprisonment.

5534.  War.

5535.  Effect of other actions and proceedings.

5536.  Construction projects.

5537.  Land surveying.

5538.  Landscape architecture.

5539.  Real estate appraisals.

 

Existing Actions and Proceedings.  Section 25(a) of Act 142 of 1976 provided that any civil action or proceeding: (1) the time heretofore limited by statute for the commencement of which is reduced by any provision of Act 142; and (2) which is not fully barred by statute on the day prior to the effective date of Act 142; may be commenced within one year after the effective date of Act 142, or within the period heretofore limited by statute, whichever is less, notwithstanding any provisions of Subchapter B of this chapter or any other provision of Act 142 providing a shorter limitation.

Cross References.  Subchapter B is referred to in section 2310 of Title 58 (Oil and Gas).

§ 5521.  Limitations on foreign claims.

(a)  Short title of section.--This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Uniform Statute of Limitations on Foreign Claims Act."

(b)  General rule.--The period of limitation applicable to a claim accruing outside this Commonwealth shall be either that provided or prescribed by the law of the place where the claim accrued or by the law of this Commonwealth, whichever first bars the claim.

(c)  Definition.--As used in this section "claim" means any right of action which may be asserted in a civil action or proceeding and includes, but is not limited to, a right of action created by statute.

 

Cross References.  Section 5521 is referred to in section 5531 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 56 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1980–2026 · leading case: Kornfeind, W. v. New Werner Holding Co., 241 A.3d 1212 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020).
Kornfeind, W. v. New Werner Holding Co., 241 A.3d 1212 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). · cites it 3× “New Werner contends that pursuant to Pennsylvania’s borrowing statute, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5521, Pennsylvania is required to “borrow” and apply Illinois’s statute of repose.”
Sheldon Stephens v. Kevin Clash, 796 F.3d 281 (3rd Cir. 2015). · cites it 2× “4 Pennsylvania’s borrowing statute, 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5521(b), the District Court looked to New York’s one-year statute of limitations for battery claims, N.”
Nader Aldossari v. Joseph Ripp, 49 F.4th 236 (3rd Cir. 2022). “” 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5521 (b). Although the relevant limitations period under Saudi law is in dispute, Pennsylvania law requires that both breach-of-contract and quantum meruit claims be brought within four years of the date of accrual.”
Coleman v. Wyeth Pharm., Inc., 6 A.3d 502 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010). “*528 The Uniform Statute of Limitations on Foreign Claims Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5521, provides in pertinent part: (b) General Rule — The period of limitation applicable to a claim accruing outside this Commonwealth shall be either that provided or prescribed by the law of the place…”
McDonald, E. v. Whitewater Challengers, Inc., 116 A.3d 99 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015). “, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5521(b) ("The period of limitation applicable to a claim accruing outside this Commonwealth shall be either that provided or prescribed by the law of the place where the claim accrued or by the law of this Commonwealth, whichever first bars the claim.”
Nat'l Union Fire Ins. v. Nicholas, 651 A.2d 1111 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994). · cites it 4× “2d 561 (1986), held that the six-year statute of limitations provided by Section 5527 applied, as a result of the provisions of the Uniform Statute of Limitations on Foreign Claims Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5521, to proceedings to register foreign judgments under the UEFJA.”
Agere Sys., Inc. v. Advanced Env't Tech. Corp., 552 F. Supp. 2d 515 (E.D. Pa. 2008). · cites it 2× “” 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 5521(b). Under Pennsylvania law, Counts III, IV, and V are governed by a four-year statute of limitations period.”
Ario v. Underwriting Members of Lloyd's of London Syndicates 33, 205 & 506, 996 A.2d 588 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010). · cites it 2× “The borrowing statute, known as the Uniform Statute of Limitations on Foreign Claims Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5521, establishes the time in which an action accruing out-of-state will be time barred.”
Frankentek Residential Sys., LLC v. Buerger, 15 F. Supp. 3d 574 (E.D. Pa. 2014). “” 12 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 5521(b). In determining which state bars the claim first, the Court also considers the laws of Pennsylvania and the foreign jurisdiction where the claim accrued on questions such as when the statute of limitations begins to run and if any tolling…”
Jennifer Oldham v. Penn State Univ., 138 F.4th 731 (3rd Cir. 2025). “Under Pennsylvania law, the determination of the controlling statute of limitations depends on where the claim accrued. For claims accruing out of state, Pennsylvania uses a first-barred rule under which the applicable statute of limitations is the shorter of Pennsylvania’s and…”
Jacobs v. Halper, 116 F. Supp. 3d 469 (E.D. Pa. 2015). · cites it 2× “42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 5521; Mack Trucks, Inc.”
Gen. Accident Ins. v. Fid. & Deposit Co., 598 F. Supp. 1223 (E.D. Pa. 1984). “42 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 5521(b). Under this statute, third-party defendants argue, whether the negligence or conversion claims arose in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, those claims would be barred if outside of the shorter Pennsylvania statute of limitations of two years.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5521(a) — 1 case
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5521(b) — 30 cases
Sheldon Stephens v. Kevin Clash, 796 F.3d 281 (3rd Cir. 2015). “4 Pennsylvania’s borrowing statute, 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5521(b), the District Court looked to New York’s one-year statute of limitations for battery claims, N.”
McDonald, E. v. Whitewater Challengers, Inc., 116 A.3d 99 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015). “, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5521(b) ("The period of limitation applicable to a claim accruing outside this Commonwealth shall be either that provided or prescribed by the law of the place where the claim accrued or by the law of this Commonwealth, whichever first bars the claim.”
Agere Sys., Inc. v. Advanced Env't Tech. Corp., 552 F. Supp. 2d 515 (E.D. Pa. 2008). “” 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 5521(b). Under Pennsylvania law, Counts III, IV, and V are governed by a four-year statute of limitations period.”
Kornfeind, W. v. New Werner Holding Co., 241 A.3d 1212 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). “New Werner contends that pursuant to Pennsylvania’s borrowing statute, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5521, Pennsylvania is required to “borrow” and apply Illinois’s statute of repose.”
Frankentek Residential Sys., LLC v. Buerger, 15 F. Supp. 3d 574 (E.D. Pa. 2014). “” 12 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 5521(b). In determining which state bars the claim first, the Court also considers the laws of Pennsylvania and the foreign jurisdiction where the claim accrued on questions such as when the statute of limitations begins to run and if any tolling…”
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