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Holding Institutions Accountable: Insights from Attorney Jeff Herman on Clergy Child Sexual Abuse

Massachusetts recently changed the law to allow victims of childhood sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.

Massachusetts survivors of childhood sexual abuse gained significantly expanded legal rights under reforms enacted in 2014. While those changes extended important protections, the law has not been eliminated — and the question of whether to go further remains actively debated in the state legislature.

The Massachusetts New Statute of Limitations Law on Sexual Abuse

Massachusetts’ 2014 reforms reflect years of advocacy by survivors, attorneys, and child protection organizations pushing to expand legal access for people harmed by abuse. For decades, strict filing deadlines had blocked many survivors from bringing civil claims, often shielding institutions from accountability. The 2014 changes represented a meaningful step forward — though advocates continue pressing for more.

Statute of Limitations Last Update for Sexual Abuse 2026

In Massachusetts, the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse is governed by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4C. Under this law, survivors may bring claims within 35 years of the abuse or within 7 years of discovering that the abuse caused emotional or psychological harm — whichever period is longer. The clock does not begin running until a survivor turns 18, ensuring minors are not barred from filing before reaching adulthood.

This remains the controlling law in 2025. Several bills currently before the legislature would extend or eliminate these deadlines altogether, including H.1829, which seeks to eliminate the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases entirely, and S.404, which addresses charitable immunity and expands filing options for survivors abused at nonprofit and sports organizations. As of now, none of these reform bills have been enacted. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 260, Section 4C remains the operative statute.

How the Statute of Limitations Affects Survivors’ Rights

The statute of limitations defines the window in which a civil lawsuit may be filed. Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4C, survivors of childhood sexual abuse may pursue claims within 35 years of the alleged abuse, or within 7 years of discovering — or reasonably should have discovered — that the abuse caused emotional or psychological injury. The statute tolls until the survivor turns 18, recognizing that children are rarely in a position to pursue legal action while still minors.

A related provision, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4C½, applies to negligence claims against institutions — such as churches, schools, or youth organizations — that failed to prevent abuse or allowed it to occur under their supervision. Importantly, this institutional provision applies to abuse that occurred after June 2014, which means survivors of older abuse may face different limitations when pursuing claims against an organization rather than an individual abuser. Consulting with an attorney is essential to understanding how these distinctions apply to your specific situation.

These laws reflect a broader recognition that survivors of childhood sexual abuse frequently do not come forward for years or even decades. By extending filing windows and including a discovery rule, Massachusetts has acknowledged the reality of trauma-delayed disclosure — while ongoing legislative efforts signal that further reform remains possible.

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Herman Law has a multistate practice representing victims of sexual abuse in civil cases.  A Herman Law attorney is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.  Each case is different, and results in prior cases do not assure a similar outcome in future cases. If there is no recovery, no fees or expenses will be charged. Attorney Advertising by Jenny Rossman.