Can You Sue for Childhood Sexual Abuse as an Adult in Texas?

Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse do not speak about what happened for years, sometimes decades. Some were too young to understand it was abuse. Others were threatened, manipulated, or afraid they would not be believed. Many simply needed time before they were ready to face it. When survivors finally do come forward as adults, one of the first questions they ask is whether it is too late to take legal action.

In Texas, the answer for many survivors is no. Texas law gives adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse significantly more time to file a civil lawsuit than most other injury victims. In many cases, survivors can sue until they turn 48 years old, and they can bring claims not only against the abuser but also against the church, school, or organization that allowed the abuse to happen.

This guide explains how the Texas statute of limitations works for childhood sexual abuse, who can be held responsible, and what to expect if you decide to move forward.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Abuse in Texas?

Under Section 16.0045 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, a survivor must file a civil lawsuit within 30 years after the cause of action accrues if the injury resulted from certain sexual offenses against a child. For someone abused as a minor, the 30-year clock generally does not start until their 18th birthday. That means most survivors have until age 48 to file.

The 30-year deadline applies to injuries arising from conduct that violates these Texas criminal laws:

Sexual assault of a child
Aggravated sexual assault of a child
Continuous sexual abuse of a young child
Indecency with a child
Sexual trafficking of a child
Compelling prostitution by a child

Importantly, a civil case does not require a criminal conviction. The abuser does not need to have been charged or found guilty for the 30-year deadline to apply. What matters is whether the conduct itself falls within one of these categories.

For a broader look at deadlines for both adult and child survivors, see our guide to the statute of limitations for sexual assault in Texas.

Why Texas Gives Survivors More Time

The Texas Legislature has extended this deadline several times. Before 2015, survivors had only five years after turning 18. In 2015, that period was extended to 15 years. In 2019, lawmakers passed House Bill 3809, which doubled the window to 30 years.

Lawmakers made those changes because of how childhood abuse affects survivors. Research cited during the 2019 debate found that the average age at which survivors of child sexual abuse disclose what happened is 52. Many survivors deal with shame, self-blame, fear, and trauma that make it extremely difficult to come forward, especially when the abuser was a trusted adult like a pastor, coach, teacher, or family member.

Survivor advocacy organizations like SNAP and RAINN have long pushed for longer deadlines for exactly this reason.

Has Texas eliminated the deadline?

Not at this time. You may see claims online that Texas eliminated the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse in 2025. Several bills proposing that change were filed during the 2025 legislative session, but they did not pass. As of 2026, the 30-year deadline remains the law in Texas. Because this area of law continues to change, it is always worth confirming the current rules with an attorney.

Can You Sue the Institution, Not Just the Abuser?

Yes. This is one of the most important parts of the 2019 law. An earlier version of the bill would have exempted churches and nonprofits from the extended deadline. After survivors pushed back, including former gymnasts abused by Larry Nassar, lawmakers restored the provision so the 30-year window applies to claims against organizations whose negligence allowed the abuse.

In many cases, the institution is the most important defendant. Individual abusers often have limited assets, while organizations usually carry insurance and have the resources to compensate survivors. Institutions that may be held liable include:

Churches, dioceses, and other religious organizations
Public and private schools
Youth sports leagues and athletic programs
Scouting and youth organizations
Summer camps
Daycares and foster care agencies

Institutions are typically liable when they knew or should have known about the danger and failed to act. That can include ignoring complaints, failing to run background checks, moving an accused leader to a new location instead of removing them, or leaving children alone with adults without supervision. Records gathered by groups like BishopAccountability.org show how often institutions received warnings and did nothing.

If your abuse involved a church or faith leader, our guides on whether you can sue a church for sexual abuse in Texas and who can be held liable in a church sexual assault case cover these claims in more depth.

Childhood Sexual Abuse Deadlines in Texas: At a Glance

Situation	General civil deadline	Notes
Sexual abuse as a child (covered offenses)	30 years after the survivor’s 18th birthday (until age 48)	Applies to claims against the abuser and negligent institutions
Sexual assault as an adult	5 years from the date of the assault	Different rules apply to adult survivors
Abuser’s identity unknown	Deadline can be paused by filing a “John Doe” petition	The petition must be updated once the abuser is identified
Abuse resulted in the survivor’s death	Deadline runs from the date of death	Family members may have a claim
Criminal prosecution	No statute of limitations for most child sexual offenses	Separate from a civil lawsuit

Important Exceptions and Questions to Ask

Was your claim already expired before 2019?

Each extension of the deadline applied only to claims that were still open when the new law took effect. The 2019 law did not revive claims that had already expired under the earlier 15-year rule. For some older survivors, this means the deadline may have passed under a previous version of the law. Whether this affects you depends on your date of birth and when the abuse occurred, so it is worth having an attorney review the timeline before assuming either way.

How old were you when the abuse happened?

For several of these offenses, Texas criminal law defines a child as someone younger than 17. Abuse that occurred at age 17 may fall under a different deadline. An attorney can determine which rule applies to your specific situation.

Are you past age 48?

If you are over 48, do not assume you have no options. In limited circumstances, legal doctrines such as fraudulent concealment may affect the deadline, particularly when an institution actively hid what it knew. If the abuse happened in another state, that state’s laws may also apply, and some states have eliminated their deadlines entirely. These situations are highly fact-specific and need to be reviewed by an attorney.

What a Civil Lawsuit Can Provide

A criminal case focuses on punishing the abuser. A civil case focuses on you. It gives survivors a way to hold both the abuser and the institutions that failed them accountable, and to recover compensation for the harm they have carried for years, including:

Costs of therapy, counseling, and mental health treatment
Medical expenses
Lost income and reduced earning capacity
Mental anguish and emotional suffering
Exemplary (punitive) damages in cases involving gross negligence or cover-ups

Civil cases also use a lower standard of proof than criminal cases. Instead of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, a survivor only needs to show that their claims are more likely true than not. For more on what courts look at, see what evidence you need to win a sexual assault lawsuit in Texas. You can also learn more about average payouts in church sexual abuse cases.

Your right to speak about what happened

Texas also passed Trey’s Law in 2025, which took effect on September 1, 2025. It makes nondisclosure agreements void and unenforceable when they are used to prevent a survivor from disclosing child sexual abuse. Settlement amounts can still be kept confidential, but institutions can no longer use agreements to silence survivors about the abuse itself.

What to Expect When Coming Forward Years Later

Many adult survivors worry that too much time has passed to prove anything. While older cases can present challenges, they are often stronger than survivors expect. Evidence may include:

Your own testimony, which is evidence on its own
Statements from other survivors of the same abuser or institution
Internal records, personnel files, and prior complaints held by the institution
Therapy and medical records documenting the effects of the abuse
Journals, letters, emails, or messages from the time
Testimony from people you told about the abuse, even years later

Survivors are also often concerned about privacy. In some cases, Texas courts may allow survivors to file under a pseudonym, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” to protect their identity. An attorney can explain what options are available in your situation.

For a full walkthrough of the process, read our guide on how to file a civil sexual assault lawsuit in Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too late to sue for abuse that happened when I was a child?

Not necessarily. Most survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Texas have until age 48 to file a civil lawsuit. Even if you are close to or past that age, it is worth speaking with an attorney about your specific timeline.

Do I need to have reported the abuse to police?

No. You can file a civil lawsuit whether or not you ever reported the abuse to law enforcement, and whether or not the abuser was ever criminally charged.

What if my abuser has died?

You may still be able to bring a claim against the abuser’s estate. You may also have a claim against the church, school, or organization that employed or supervised them.

Will I have to face my abuser in court?

Most civil cases settle before trial. If your case does go to trial, your attorney can help prepare you and discuss options to make the process as manageable as possible.

Contact Elmazi Law for a Free, Confidential Consultation

Coming forward about childhood abuse takes tremendous courage, no matter how much time has passed. At Elmazi Law, we represent survivors throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, and North Texas in civil cases against abusers and the institutions that failed to protect them. We handle these cases with compassion and complete confidentiality.

Learn more about our sexual abuse and sexual assault cases and church and clergy sexual abuse cases, or contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes of limitations depend on the specific facts of each case, and laws may change. Please contact an attorney to discuss your specific situation.