Connecticut does not yet have a lookback window for expired claims, but advocates are pushing for one. Here is what Connecticut's current Time's Up Act allows, what survivors can do right now, and how to get free help.
Reviewed by Abuse Justice Center · Updated 2026-06-25
Age limits per Connecticut Time's Up Act. Average-age figure per Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, as reported by News 12, April 2026.
Connecticut's Time's Up Act, passed in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, extended the civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse survivors. Under current law, survivors of abuse that occurred on or after October 1, 2019, may file civil claims until they reach age 51. For abuse that occurred before that date, the deadline is age 48. No lookback window for already-expired claims exists under current Connecticut law.
These deadlines represent progress over older Connecticut law, but advocacy organizations argue they still fall short of what survivors need. The challenge is rooted in how trauma affects disclosure: many survivors do not come forward until years or decades after the abuse occurred.
A coalition of Connecticut survivor advocates is calling on the legislature to enact a three-year civil lookback window for claims that have already expired and to eliminate civil time limits entirely for new claims going forward. Supporters point to the research finding that survivors typically do not come forward until around age 52 on average, after many existing deadlines have already passed.
Advocates also argue that technological and investigative advances mean that older cases can still be meaningfully pursued, and that time does not automatically diminish the ability to build a credible claim. Despite more than two decades of advocacy work, no Connecticut lookback window bill was introduced in the current legislative session.
Survivors whose claims have not yet expired under the current Time's Up Act should act without delay. Confirming whether your deadline has passed, and whether any exceptions might apply, requires a conversation with a licensed attorney who knows Connecticut law. That conversation is free.
Survivors whose deadlines have already passed face a harder situation under current law. No Connecticut revival window exists yet. However, other options may warrant exploration depending on the specific facts: where the abuse occurred, which institutions were involved, and whether any of those institutions are subject to the law of another state that has a revival window.
The Abuse Justice Center is a free, confidential survivor-attorney matching service. We connect survivors with attorneys who focus on sexual abuse civil claims in Connecticut and across the country. Those attorneys work on contingency, meaning no fee unless they recover for you. Reaching out to find out your options costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
This article is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Individual eligibility depends on specific facts and current law, which a licensed attorney can evaluate for your situation.
Whether your claim is still active under current law or you believe your deadline has already passed, these steps are worth taking now.
Abuse Justice Center is a lawyer-matching and advocacy service, not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice. Matching and consultations are free, and network attorneys work on contingency. Need support now? The RAINN hotline is 800-656-4673, 24/7.
Connecticut's Time's Up Act extended civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse survivors. Under current law, survivors may file until age 51 for abuse occurring on or after October 1, 2019, or until age 48 for earlier abuse. No lookback window exists for claims that have already expired under these deadlines.
Advocacy research indicates that survivors typically do not come forward until around age 52, after many current Connecticut deadlines have already passed. Advocates argue that existing deadlines are effectively unreachable for many survivors, given how long trauma often suppresses disclosure.
Under current law, a passed Connecticut deadline generally means the claim is barred. However, an attorney can explore whether any exceptions apply, whether another jurisdiction with an open window might be relevant, and whether a future Connecticut window could revive your claim. The only way to know is to ask.
No. Consultations through the Abuse Justice Center are free, confidential, and carry no obligation. Attorneys in our network work on contingency, meaning you owe nothing unless they recover for you.