{"id":8083,"date":"2026-10-21T13:12:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T13:12:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:12:16","slug":"plazo-para-demandar-por-despido-injustificado-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00bfCu\u00e1nto tiempo tiene para demandar por despido injustificado en California?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Key_points\" >Key points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#The_short_answer\" >The short answer<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Wrongful_termination_deadlines_by_type_of_claim\" >Wrongful termination deadlines by type of claim<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#FEHA_the_three-year_CRD_deadline_and_the_one-year_lawsuit_deadline\" >FEHA: the three-year CRD deadline and the one-year lawsuit deadline<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Wrongful_termination_in_violation_of_public_policy\" >Wrongful termination in violation of public policy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Whistleblower_retaliation\" >Whistleblower retaliation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#When_the_clock_starts_and_when_it_can_be_extended\" >When the clock starts, and when it can be extended<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#The_clock_usually_starts_on_your_last_day_of_work\" >The clock usually starts on your last day of work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Tolling\" >Tolling<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Public_employers_have_shorter_deadlines\" >Public employers have shorter deadlines<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#What_to_do_now\" >What to do now<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Frequently_asked_questions\" >Frequently asked questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#How_long_do_I_have_to_sue_for_wrongful_termination_in_California\" >How long do I have to sue for wrongful termination in California?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Is_the_deadline_different_for_discrimination\" >Is the deadline different for discrimination?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Does_the_deadline_start_when_I_was_told_I_was_fired_or_on_my_last_day\" >Does the deadline start when I was told I was fired or on my last day?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#I_was_fired_more_than_a_year_ago_Is_it_too_late\" >I was fired more than a year ago. Is it too late?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Does_negotiating_with_my_former_employer_stop_the_clock\" >Does negotiating with my former employer stop the clock?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#Talk_to_a_California_wrongful_termination_lawyer\" >Talk to a California wrongful termination lawyer<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<style>.rlf-guide { --navy:#1c2b4a; --red:#c1272d; --line:#dfe3ea; } .rlf-guide .rlf-keypoints { border:1px solid var(--line); border-left:5px solid var(--red); background:#f7f8fb; padding:18px 22px; margin:6px 0 24px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-keypoints h3 { margin:0 0 10px; font:700 17px\/1.3 Arial, sans-serif; color:var(--navy); text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.04em; } .rlf-guide .rlf-keypoints ul { margin:0; padding-left:20px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-keypoints li { font-size:16px; line-height:1.55; margin-bottom:6px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-timeline { border:1px solid var(--line); padding:20px 20px 14px; margin:8px 0 26px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; } .rlf-guide .rlf-timeline-title { font-weight:700; color:var(--navy); font-size:17px; margin:0 0 4px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-timeline-sub { font-size:13.5px; color:#555; margin:0 0 16px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-row { display:grid; grid-template-columns:110px 1fr; align-items:center; gap:10px; margin-bottom:10px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-label { font-size:13px; font-weight:700; color:var(--navy); line-height:1.25; } .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-bar { display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(22, 1fr); height:54px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-seg { display:flex; flex-direction:column; justify-content:center; padding:0 8px; color:#fff; font-size:12.5px; line-height:1.2; border-right:2px solid #fff; overflow:hidden; } .rlf-guide .rlf-seg b { font-size:13.5px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-seg.dark-text { color:#1d2a20; } .rlf-guide .rlf-seg.unpaid { color:#333; background:repeating-linear-gradient(45deg, #e6e6e6, #e6e6e6 6px, #f4f4f4 6px, #f4f4f4 12px); } .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-axis { display:grid; grid-template-columns:110px 1fr; gap:10px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-ticks { display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(22, 1fr); font-size:11.5px; color:#666; border-top:1px solid #999; padding-top:4px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-birthtick { color:var(--red); font-weight:700; white-space:nowrap; margin-left:-6px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-note { font-size:13px; color:#555; margin:12px 0 0; line-height:1.5; } @media (max-width: 600px) { .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-row, .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-axis { grid-template-columns:1fr; } .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-pad { display:none; } .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-bar { height:68px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-seg { font-size:11px; padding:0 4px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-seg b { font-size:12px; } } .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare { width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin:8px 0 26px; font:14.5px\/1.45 Arial, sans-serif; } .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare th { background:var(--navy); color:#fff; text-align:left; padding:10px 12px; font-weight:700; } .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare td { border-bottom:1px solid var(--line); padding:10px 12px; vertical-align:top; } .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare tr:nth-child(even) td { background:#f7f8fb; } .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare td:first-child { font-weight:700; color:var(--navy); width:22%; } .rlf-guide .rlf-yes { color:#2d6b45; font-weight:700; } .rlf-guide .rlf-no { color:var(--red); font-weight:700; } @media (max-width: 600px) { .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare thead { display:none; } .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare, .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare tbody, .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare tr, .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare td { display:block; width:auto; } .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare tr { border:1px solid var(--line); margin-bottom:12px; } .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare td:first-child { width:auto; background:var(--navy) !important; color:#fff; } .rlf-guide table.rlf-compare td[data-label]::before { content:attr(data-label) \": \"; font-weight:700; color:var(--navy); } } .rlf-guide .rlf-callout { border:1px solid #f0c9cb; border-left:5px solid var(--red); background:#fdf3f3; padding:16px 20px; margin:6px 0 24px; } .rlf-guide .rlf-callout p { margin:0; font-size:16px; line-height:1.6; } .rlf-guide .rlf-callout strong { color:var(--red); } .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-ticks br, .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-bar br, .rlf-guide .rlf-tl-row br { display:none; }<\/style>\n<div class=\"rlf-guide\">\n<p><em>Reviewed by <a href=\"\/eliot-j-rushovich\/\">Eliot J. Rushovich<\/a>, Managing Partner, Rise Law Firm, PC. Last updated October 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"rlf-keypoints\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_points\"><\/span>Key points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>There is no single deadline for wrongful termination in California. The deadline depends on the legal claim, and one firing can give rise to several claims with different deadlines.<\/li>\n<li>Discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) must be filed with the California Civil Rights Department within <strong>three years<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>A claim for wrongful termination in violation of public policy generally must be filed in court within <strong>two years<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Some deadlines are much shorter, including a six-month notice deadline for many claims against public employers and a one-year filing deadline for a retaliation complaint to the Labor Commissioner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>If you were fired and believe it was illegal, the most important question after \u201cDo I have a case?\u201d is \u201cHow long do I have?\u201d California law does not set one statute of limitations for wrongful termination. Instead, each legal claim that can arise from a firing has its own deadline, and missing it can end the claim no matter how strong it is.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_short_answer\"><\/span>The short answer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For most employees fired by a private employer, the key deadlines are <strong>three years<\/strong> to file a FEHA complaint with the Civil Rights Department (for discrimination, harassment, retaliation or leave violations), <strong>two years<\/strong> to sue for wrongful termination in violation of public policy, and <strong>three years<\/strong> for most whistleblower retaliation claims under Labor Code section 1102.5. Claims against a public employer, complaints to the Labor Commissioner, and federal claims through the EEOC have shorter deadlines. Because the earliest deadline is the one that matters, it is best to speak with a lawyer well before any of them approach.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wrongful_termination_deadlines_by_type_of_claim\"><\/span>Wrongful termination deadlines by type of claim<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table class=\"rlf-compare\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Claim<\/th>\n<th>Where it is filed<\/th>\n<th>Deadline<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Discrimination, harassment or retaliation under FEHA, including CFRA leave violations and failure to accommodate<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">California Civil Rights Department (CRD)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">3 years from the unlawful act (Gov. Code \u00a7 12960(e))<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Lawsuit after a CRD right-to-sue notice<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Superior court<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">1 year from the date of the notice (Gov. Code \u00a7 12965(c))<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wrongful termination in violation of public policy (<em>Tameny<\/em> claim)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Superior court<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">2 years (Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 335.1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Whistleblower retaliation under Labor Code section 1102.5<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Superior court<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">Generally 3 years (Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 338(a))<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Retaliation complaint to the Labor Commissioner (for example, for wage complaints or reporting safety violations)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Labor Commissioner<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">1 year (Lab. Code \u00a7 98.7)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Breach of a written employment contract<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Superior court<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">4 years (Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 337)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Breach of an oral or implied contract<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Superior court<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">2 years (Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 339)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Unpaid wages and final pay penalties<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Superior court or Labor Commissioner<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">Generally 3 years (Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 338), or up to 4 years for some claims under California\u2019s Unfair Competition Law (Bus. &amp; Prof. Code \u00a7 17208)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Discrimination under federal law (Title VII, ADA, ADEA)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">EEOC<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">300 days (the deadline for California employees)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Federal lawsuit after an EEOC right-to-sue notice<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Federal court<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">90 days from the notice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Federal or state court<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">2 years, or 3 years for willful violations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Most damages claims against a public employer, other than FEHA claims<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Where it is filed\">Government claim to the public entity<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Deadline\">6 months (Gov. Code \u00a7 911.2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The table lists the most common claims and is not exhaustive. Other claims, such as defamation (one year) or claims under specialized statutes, have their own deadlines.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FEHA_the_three-year_CRD_deadline_and_the_one-year_lawsuit_deadline\"><\/span>FEHA: the three-year CRD deadline and the one-year lawsuit deadline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most wrongful termination cases include a claim under FEHA, because the firing was motivated by a protected characteristic such as race, sex, pregnancy, age, disability or sexual orientation, or because the employee <a href=\"\/los-angeles-retaliation-attorney\/\">complained about discrimination or harassment<\/a>, requested an accommodation, or <a href=\"\/fired-on-medical-leave-california\/\">took protected leave<\/a>. Before suing under FEHA, an employee must file a complaint with the Civil Rights Department. Since January 1, 2020, the deadline to do that is three years from the unlawful act.<\/p>\n<p>Most employees who plan to file a lawsuit request an immediate right-to-sue notice when they file with the CRD. Once the notice issues, the employee has one year to file the lawsuit in court. The two deadlines work together: an employee who waits nearly three years to file with the CRD still has one year from the right-to-sue notice to sue, but an employee who obtains a notice early cannot wait three years to file the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wrongful_termination_in_violation_of_public_policy\"><\/span>Wrongful termination in violation of public policy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>California courts allow an employee to sue for wrongful termination when the firing violated a fundamental public policy stated in a statute or constitutional provision, such as firing an employee for refusing to break the law, for reporting illegal conduct, or for a reason FEHA prohibits. These claims, often called <em>Tameny<\/em> claims, have a two-year deadline and do not require a CRD complaint. Because the two-year deadline runs while a FEHA complaint is pending, it is often the first deadline to watch in a private-sector case.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whistleblower_retaliation\"><\/span>Whistleblower retaliation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>An employee fired for reporting a violation of law to a government agency, to a supervisor, or to someone with authority to investigate, or for refusing to participate in an illegal activity, may have a <a href=\"\/los-angeles-whistleblowing-attorney\/\">whistleblower retaliation<\/a> claim under Labor Code section 1102.5 and other statutes. Courts generally apply a three-year deadline to these claims. An employee can also file a retaliation complaint with the Labor Commissioner, but that complaint must be filed within one year, and filing it is optional rather than required before suing.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_the_clock_starts_and_when_it_can_be_extended\"><\/span>When the clock starts, and when it can be extended<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_clock_usually_starts_on_your_last_day_of_work\"><\/span>The clock usually starts on your last day of work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For a wrongful termination claim, the deadline generally begins to run on the date the employment actually ends, not the date you were told you would be let go (<em>Romano v. Rockwell Internat., Inc.<\/em> (1996) 14 Cal.4th 479). If you were given notice in March that your job would end in June, the clock usually starts in June.<\/p>\n<p>Claims that involve conduct before the firing can be different. For harassment or a failure to accommodate that continued over months, California\u2019s continuing violation doctrine may allow earlier conduct to be included if it was part of the same pattern and continued into the limitations period (<em>Richards v. CH2M Hill, Inc.<\/em> (2001) 26 Cal.4th 798). Other claims, such as a discriminatory demotion or denial of a promotion, may run from the date of that decision rather than the later firing.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tolling\"><\/span>Tolling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In limited circumstances, a deadline can be paused, which is called tolling. Courts have applied equitable tolling, for example, while an employee pursued an internal grievance or administrative remedy before suing (<em>McDonald v. Antelope Valley Community College Dist.<\/em> (2008) 45 Cal.4th 88), and the FEHA deadline can be extended in a few situations described in the statute. Tolling depends on the facts and is not something to rely on in planning. Settlement discussions with your former employer, an internal appeal, or a workers\u2019 compensation or unemployment claim generally do not stop the clock on their own.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Public_employers_have_shorter_deadlines\"><\/span>Public employers have shorter deadlines<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you worked for the state, a city, a county, a school district, a public university or another public agency, a different rule applies to many claims. Under the Government Claims Act, a claim for money damages against a public entity generally must be presented to the entity within six months, and a lawsuit can be filed only after the claim is denied (Gov. Code \u00a7\u00a7 911.2, 945.4). FEHA claims are an exception: they follow the CRD process rather than the government claim process. Because the six-month deadline is so short, public employees should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a termination.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_now\"><\/span>What to do now<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Keep track of the key dates:<\/strong> the date you were told you were being fired, your last day of work, and the dates of any complaints, leave requests or other events that came before the firing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Save what you already have,<\/strong> such as your termination letter, emails, texts, performance reviews and pay records. Do not take confidential company documents.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Find out whether your employer is a public entity.<\/strong> If it is, the six-month government claim deadline may apply.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Speak with a lawyer early.<\/strong> A lawyer can identify every claim that may apply and the earliest deadline among them, and filing early also preserves evidence and witnesses\u2019 memories.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_do_I_have_to_sue_for_wrongful_termination_in_California\"><\/span>How long do I have to sue for wrongful termination in California?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It depends on the claim. You generally have three years to file a FEHA complaint with the Civil Rights Department, two years to sue for wrongful termination in violation of public policy, and three years for most whistleblower retaliation claims. Claims against public employers and complaints to the Labor Commissioner have shorter deadlines.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_deadline_different_for_discrimination\"><\/span>Is the deadline different for discrimination?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. A discrimination claim under California law must first be filed with the Civil Rights Department within three years, followed by a lawsuit within one year of the right-to-sue notice. A federal discrimination claim must be filed with the EEOC within 300 days (the deadline for California employees).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_deadline_start_when_I_was_told_I_was_fired_or_on_my_last_day\"><\/span>Does the deadline start when I was told I was fired or on my last day?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For a wrongful termination claim, the deadline generally starts on the date your employment actually ended.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"I_was_fired_more_than_a_year_ago_Is_it_too_late\"><\/span>I was fired more than a year ago. Is it too late?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not necessarily. Many wrongful termination claims in California have two- or three-year deadlines. The answer depends on the claims involved and on whether your employer was a public entity, so it is worth having the facts reviewed promptly.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_negotiating_with_my_former_employer_stop_the_clock\"><\/span>Does negotiating with my former employer stop the clock?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Generally no. Settlement discussions do not extend the deadline unless the employer agrees in writing to a tolling agreement.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Talk_to_a_California_wrongful_termination_lawyer\"><\/span>Talk to a California wrongful termination lawyer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Rise Law Firm represents employees throughout California in <a href=\"\/los-angeles-wrongful-termination-attorney\/\">wrongful termination<\/a>, discrimination, harassment and retaliation cases, from chief executives to minimum-wage workers. We have secured millions of dollars for our clients, including recoveries against major companies, government entities, and celebrities. We work on a contingency basis, which means there are no fees or costs unless we recover compensation for you.<\/p>\n<p>If you were wrongfully fired and want to know which deadlines apply to you, <a href=\"\/contact\/\">contact us<\/a> to request a free, confidential consultation, or call <a href=\"tel:+13107286588\">(310) 728-6588<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>This article provides general information about California and federal law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n \"mainEntity\": [\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"How long do I have to sue for wrongful termination in California?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"It depends on the claim. You generally have three years to file a FEHA complaint with the Civil Rights Department, two years to sue for wrongful termination in violation of public policy, and three years for most whistleblower retaliation claims. Claims against public employers and complaints to the Labor Commissioner have shorter deadlines.\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"Is the deadline different for discrimination?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"Yes. A discrimination claim under California law must first be filed with the Civil Rights Department within three years, followed by a lawsuit within one year of the right-to-sue notice. A federal discrimination claim must be filed with the EEOC within 300 days (the deadline for California employees).\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"Does the deadline start when I was told I was fired or on my last day?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"For a wrongful termination claim, the deadline generally starts on the date your employment actually ended.\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"I was fired more than a year ago. Is it too late?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"Not necessarily. Many wrongful termination claims in California have two- or three-year deadlines. The answer depends on the claims involved and on whether your employer was a public entity, so it is worth having the facts reviewed promptly.\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"Does negotiating with my former employer stop the clock?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"Generally no. Settlement discussions do not extend the deadline unless the employer agrees in writing to a tolling agreement.\"\n   }\n  }\n ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Los plazos para reclamar un despido injustificado en California van de seis meses a cuatro a\u00f1os, seg\u00fan la reclamaci\u00f3n. Conozca los plazos de la FEHA, de denunciantes, Tameny y federales.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-employee-rights-qa","category-wrongful-termination"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Wrongful Termination Statute of Limitations in California | Rise Law Firm<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"California wrongful termination deadlines range from six months to four years depending on the claim. See the deadlines for FEHA, whistleblower, Tameny and federal claims.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/plazo-para-demandar-por-despido-injustificado-california\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wrongful Termination Statute of Limitations in California | Rise Law Firm\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"California wrongful termination deadlines range from six months to four years depending on the claim. See the deadlines for FEHA, whistleblower, Tameny and federal claims.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/plazo-para-demandar-por-despido-injustificado-california\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rise Law Firm\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-21T20:12:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eliot Rushovich\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Escrito por\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eliot Rushovich\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Tiempo de lectura\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutos\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Eliot Rushovich\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/60f2696872886e206a9fd65af48d4bed\"},\"headline\":\"How Long Do You Have to Sue for Wrongful Termination in California?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-21T20:12:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1705,\"commentCount\":0,\"articleSection\":[\"Employee Rights Q&amp;A\",\"Wrongful Termination\"],\"inLanguage\":\"es\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\\\/\",\"name\":\"Wrongful Termination Statute of Limitations in California | Rise Law Firm\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-21T20:12:16+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/60f2696872886e206a9fd65af48d4bed\"},\"description\":\"California wrongful termination deadlines range from six months to four years depending on the claim. See the deadlines for FEHA, whistleblower, Tameny and federal claims.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"es\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How Long Do You Have to Sue for Wrongful Termination in California?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Rise Law Firm\",\"description\":\"Employment Lawyers - Los Angeles\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"es\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/60f2696872886e206a9fd65af48d4bed\",\"name\":\"Eliot Rushovich\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"es\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/c54b2bcb190cb9cf7b4a5702af0925ab0334ec0f29a2b9311f48bc1c2a1b91fb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/c54b2bcb190cb9cf7b4a5702af0925ab0334ec0f29a2b9311f48bc1c2a1b91fb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/c54b2bcb190cb9cf7b4a5702af0925ab0334ec0f29a2b9311f48bc1c2a1b91fb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Eliot Rushovich\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.riselawfirm.com\\\/es\\\/author\\\/rise-admin\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Plazo de prescripci\u00f3n para despido injustificado en California | Rise Law Firm","description":"Los plazos para reclamar un despido injustificado en California van de seis meses a cuatro a\u00f1os, seg\u00fan la reclamaci\u00f3n. Conozca los plazos de la FEHA, de denunciantes, Tameny y federales.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/plazo-para-demandar-por-despido-injustificado-california\/","og_locale":"es_MX","og_type":"article","og_title":"Wrongful Termination Statute of Limitations in California | Rise Law Firm","og_description":"California wrongful termination deadlines range from six months to four years depending on the claim. See the deadlines for FEHA, whistleblower, Tameny and federal claims.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/plazo-para-demandar-por-despido-injustificado-california\/","og_site_name":"Rise Law Firm","article_published_time":"2026-10-21T20:12:16+00:00","author":"Eliot Rushovich","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Escrito por":"Eliot Rushovich","Tiempo de lectura":"8 minutos"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/"},"author":{"name":"Eliot Rushovich","@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/60f2696872886e206a9fd65af48d4bed"},"headline":"How Long Do You Have to Sue for Wrongful Termination in California?","datePublished":"2026-10-21T20:12:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/"},"wordCount":1705,"commentCount":0,"articleSection":["Employee Rights Q&amp;A","Wrongful Termination"],"inLanguage":"es","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/","url":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/","name":"Plazo de prescripci\u00f3n para despido injustificado en California | Rise Law Firm","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-10-21T20:12:16+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/60f2696872886e206a9fd65af48d4bed"},"description":"Los plazos para reclamar un despido injustificado en California van de seis meses a cuatro a\u00f1os, seg\u00fan la reclamaci\u00f3n. Conozca los plazos de la FEHA, de denunciantes, Tameny y federales.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"es","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/wrongful-termination-statute-of-limitations-california\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Long Do You Have to Sue for Wrongful Termination in California?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/","name":"Rise Law Firm","description":"Abogados laborales - Los \u00c1ngeles","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"es"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/#\/schema\/person\/60f2696872886e206a9fd65af48d4bed","name":"Eliot Rushovich","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"es","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c54b2bcb190cb9cf7b4a5702af0925ab0334ec0f29a2b9311f48bc1c2a1b91fb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c54b2bcb190cb9cf7b4a5702af0925ab0334ec0f29a2b9311f48bc1c2a1b91fb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c54b2bcb190cb9cf7b4a5702af0925ab0334ec0f29a2b9311f48bc1c2a1b91fb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Eliot Rushovich"},"url":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/author\/rise-admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8083"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8083\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.riselawfirm.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}