Delaware's pending HB 75 would eliminate the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims with no expiration date. Whether or not it passes, survivors should understand their options now and how to connect with a lawyer.
Reviewed by Abuse Justice Center · Updated 2026-07-11
Multiple active lookback windows exist in 2026. Delaware's HB 75 would add permanent access if passed. Sources: Shubin Law (2026); Sokolove Law (2026).
Delaware's HB 75 would permanently eliminate the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims. If it passes, a survivor who experienced abuse in Delaware at age 12 could file a civil lawsuit at age 40, age 60, or beyond, with no filing deadline based on when the abuse occurred. That is a fundamental change from how statutes of limitations have historically worked, and it would make connecting with a civil attorney immediately worthwhile for any Delaware survivor who has been waiting.
Under the current law, many survivors who experienced childhood abuse in Delaware may believe their civil options have already closed. A civil attorney with experience in sexual abuse claims can review the specific facts of a situation and assess whether current law or any prior Delaware lookback provision applies, and whether HB 75's passage would open an additional path. That kind of factual assessment requires an attorney, not a general information article.
The free consultation model is the standard in this area of law. Most attorneys who handle civil sexual abuse cases work on contingency, meaning there is no upfront fee and the attorney's compensation comes from a portion of any recovery. The first step, the consultation, is almost universally free and confidential. For survivors considering whether to come forward, that consultation is the lowest-barrier, highest-information action they can take right now.
Finding a qualified civil sexual abuse attorney starts with understanding that this is a specialized area of practice. Not all personal injury attorneys handle sexual abuse institutional claims, and not all who handle those claims have experience with the specific institutions, records, and litigation strategies involved in boarding school, religious institution, or other Delaware-specific cases. The matching process matters.
Referral networks and attorney-matching services focused on civil sexual abuse claims can connect survivors with attorneys who have relevant experience and a track record in cases similar to their own. When evaluating an attorney for an initial consultation, survivors can ask directly about prior experience with the type of institution involved, familiarity with Delaware-specific law and any prior lookback windows, and whether the firm works on a contingency basis. Those questions clarify quickly whether the attorney is a good fit.
Confidentiality is guaranteed by attorney-client privilege from the moment a survivor speaks with an attorney in confidence. There is no obligation to file anything after a consultation. Survivors can hear what an attorney has to say, take time to decide, consult with additional attorneys, and come back when they feel ready. The process does not have to move faster than the survivor is ready for it to move. This article is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Attorney advertising.
Survivors who experienced abuse in states other than Delaware should know that several active lookback windows are currently open in 2026. California's AB 250 adult survivor window is open through December 31, 2027, covering survivors of sexual assault in California regardless of when the abuse occurred. California's AB 2777, covering childhood sexual abuse, closes December 31, 2026, so the remaining window for those claims is relatively short. Rhode Island's new two-year window opened July 1, 2026 and runs through June 30, 2028.
New York City's Gender-Motivated Violence Act revival window opened in March 2026 and runs through March 2027. This window covers gender-motivated violence claims for incidents that occurred specifically within New York City. Survivors of institutions with New York City connections should check whether their claims fall within this geographic scope. Other states, including Arkansas, are in the midst of court decisions or pending legislation that could affect whether windows are open or may reopen.
For survivors who are unsure which state's law applies, an attorney can often help make that determination quickly based on where the institution was located, where the individual was residing at the time of the abuse, and what other connections the claim may have to a particular state. The geographic and legal complexity is exactly the kind of thing an experienced attorney can cut through in an initial consultation. Filing windows have expiration dates; the cost of waiting past one is real and irreversible.
A first consultation with a civil sexual abuse attorney does not require a complete file of evidence. Attorneys in this field are accustomed to working from the survivor's personal account as the starting point and developing the evidentiary picture from there. However, some preparation can make the consultation more productive and give the attorney a clearer sense of what investigation would be needed.
If a survivor has any personal records related to the abuse or the institution, bringing those to the consultation is helpful: journal entries from the period, correspondence with the institution, any prior reports made to school or religious authorities, or documentation of later disclosures to therapists or medical providers. If no such records exist, that is not a barrier to the consultation. The attorney's job includes assessing what records might be obtainable through civil discovery, including institutional personnel files, insurance records, and internal correspondence that the institution holds.
It is also worth thinking before the consultation about what other survivors from the same institution the survivor may be aware of. Corroborating accounts from others who experienced the same abuser or the same institutional non-response can significantly strengthen a civil case. The attorney may have already heard from other survivors of the same institution, which is something that can come out in the consultation. The goal of the first meeting is not to prove a case; it is to understand whether a viable case exists and what investigating it would require. General information only; not legal advice. Attorney advertising.
A first consultation sets the tone for the entire attorney-client relationship. Here are the questions that help survivors assess whether an attorney is the right fit for their specific situation.
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.
HB 75 would apply to claims arising from abuse that occurred in Delaware or involving Delaware institutions. If the abuse occurred in another state, that state's laws would govern whether any current window applies. An attorney can assess which state's law applies based on the facts of your situation. General information only; not legal advice.
That is exactly the kind of uncertainty a free consultation with a civil attorney can help resolve. An attorney cannot guarantee a specific outcome, but they can give an informed opinion about whether the facts as described are likely to support a viable claim. The consultation is confidential and does not require a commitment to file.
Most civil sexual abuse attorneys work on contingency: no fee unless and until there is a recovery. The percentage varies by attorney and case complexity, but it means survivors can access legal representation without paying upfront regardless of their financial situation.
Yes. Civil claims in institutional abuse cases are typically filed against the institution, not only the individual. Even if the abuser has died or moved away, the institution itself can be sued for its own knowledge of and response to the abuse. Attorney advertising. General information only; not legal advice.