Statute of limitations relates to the length of time under state law that mandates how long you have to file a legal wrongful death claim in Georgia. The statute of limitations for you to file a wrongful death claim in Gwinnett County is typically two years from the date of the wrongful death.  If the claim is not filed within these two years, you may lose your right to file. You may still be able to file a lawsuit, but it is likely that courts will throw it out. It is important to note that this timeframe can vary depending on various factors and circumstances. Depending on your specific circumstances, your filing deadline can be shorter or longer.  In wrongful death cases resulting from a violation of Georgia law—whether medical malpractice, crime, or a traffic violation—the statute of limitations may be "tolled" or paused to await the outcome of criminal prosecution. Crime, in this case, can involve negligence or unlawful intent. If the city is pursuing a criminal case, civic courts may extend the deadline. Your case may have an additional five years added to it if your loved one’s estate does not go through probate. Another example includes insurance policies and contracts where the statute of limitations is generally six years. Most insurance contracts contain a regulation that may limit the time for filing to just one year. Your wrongful death attorney can carefully review your insurance policy to realize a contractual suit limitation in place. If a Gwinnett County wrongful death is against a government agency, employee, or entity, the deadline could be 12 months. It is crucial that you go over your situation with your county wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible to determine how much time you have to file. You never want to risk missing this crucial requirement.