A short guide to one of the most common myths survivors believe about pursuing a claim.
If you were sexually abused years — or decades — ago, you may believe it’s too late to do anything about it now. That belief is one of the most common reasons survivors never look into their options. It’s also, in almost every case, incorrect.
Since 2016, Ontario law has removed the limitation period for civil claims based on sexual assault entirely. There is no two-year clock, no cutoff age, no expiry. It doesn’t matter whether the abuse happened last year or fifty years ago — you still have the right to bring a claim today.
The same protection extends to sexual misconduct that falls short of assault, where you were a minor at the time, the person responsible was in a position of trust or authority over you, had charge of you, or you were dependent on them in some way. A related provision removes the limitation period for assault itself in similar circumstances.
In practice, this means the passage of time — on its own — is almost never a reason not to explore your options. It’s simply not the barrier most survivors assume it is.
What This Doesn’t Mean
It doesn’t mean you have to do anything right now. Removing the legal deadline isn’t the same as creating a new one in the other direction — there’s no rush, and no timeline you’re expected to follow. It also doesn’t mean every claim looks the same; who can be held responsible, what evidence is available, and what compensation might look like all depend on your specific circumstances.
If You’re Considering Your Options
Our full guide walks through how compensation works in these cases — who can be held responsible (including institutions, not just the individual involved), what a claim can include, and what an initial conversation with a lawyer actually looks like. It’s written to be read at your own pace, with nothing in it meant to push you toward any particular decision.
Read Our Complete Guide : Understanding Compensation in Sexual Abuse Claims
An initial consultation costs nothing, and most sexual abuse claims are handled on a contingency basis, meaning legal fees are only owed if the claim succeeds.
