Sexual abuse laws across the United States vary significantly. Each state has its unique statutes of limitations, definitions of consent, and levels of victim support, which can drastically affect the ease with which individuals can bring forward and sustain claims. In recent years, media attention regarding child sexual abuse scandals within the church and other organizations has prompted many states to amend their statute of limitations laws to make it easier for victims of child sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits.
Our sex abuse lawyers have seen efforts to grade states in 2024 based on how hospitable that state is to sex abuse lawsuits. But we have not seen anyone take all of the relevant factors into account, mostly because of the lack of consideration of whether you can bring a lawsuit against a third party for the wrongdoer’s sexual assault. Pragmatically, you almost always need a negligent third party with deep pockets to pay any sex abuse settlement amount or jury payout.
This page aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the legal frameworks governing sexual abuse in each state, offering a clear grading system to evaluate how conducive each jurisdiction is for victims pursuing legal action. By assessing factors such as the statute of limitations, the burden of proof required, and the availability of victim advocacy resources, our attorneys provide what we hope is a a crucial resource for understanding the challenges and opportunities that survivors face in seeking justice.
