California gives survivors three years from the date of the last act of domestic violence to file a civil damages lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure 340.15). The clock does not run from the first incident — it resets with the last one. But evidence does not wait, and neither should you.
The statute runs from the last act of domestic violence, not the first, and not from when you left. Each qualifying act restarts the period for that act. Practical meaning: you have time — but the case gets harder to prove as evidence ages, memories fade, and witnesses move.
Messages get deleted, surveillance overwrites, medical records grow stale, and the abuser's version hardens. The legal deadline is three years; the practical deadline for a strong case is much sooner. A free consultation tells you exactly where your case stands — while the proof is still fresh.
In immediate danger, call 911. For protection planning and next steps, call (619) 730-7884 — free and confidential, through whatever channel is safe for you.
