Collas Crill Explains… Prescription

This is part of a series of guides in which we examine areas of Guernsey law that frequently arise in practice. Click here to subscribe to receive Collas Crill news and insights by email.

When we talk about prescription in Guernsey in the litigation context we're not referring to anything medical, but rather the period of time in which a plaintiff must bring a cause of action.

The reason for prescription periods is to establish certainty for parties. Not only that, but prescription also recognises that evidence and memories will diminish the longer the period between the claim arising and commencement of proceedings. This may result in unjust inequalities between the parties and increased costs.