Law & Life: Quick Reference for All Time Limits

Compiled on: May 31, 2026 ---

I. Age Thresholds for Civil Capacity

Age	Capacity Type
<8 years old	No civil capacity
8 ≤ X < 18 years old	Limited civil capacity
≥18 years old	Full civil capacity
16 ≤ X < 18 with own labor income as main living source	Deemed to have full civil capacity

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II. Statute of Limitations

• General statute of limitations: 3 years
  • Starts from the date the right holder knows or should have known of the infringement and the obligor
  • ⚠️ Both conditions must be met for the clock to start ticking!
• Maximum protection period: 20 years
  • Starts from the date the right is infringed (even if unknown)
  • After 20 years, the court will not grant protection
• Interruption of statute of limitations (restarts the 3-year clock):
  • The right holder makes a claim to the obligor
  • The obligor agrees to perform the obligation
  • The right holder files a lawsuit or applies for arbitration ⚠️ Exam trap: "You can't sue after the statute of limitations expires" ❌ → You can still sue, but the other party gains the right to object, and the court cannot apply the statute of limitations on its own --- ## III. Arbitration Time Limits ### General Commercial Arbitration
• Final and binding, the award takes effect immediately, cannot be appealed ### Labor Dispute Arbitration
• Arbitration time limit: 1 year (from the date the right holder knows of the infringement)
• Dissatisfied with the arbitration award: file a lawsuit with the court within 15 days of receiving the award
• If arbitration is not accepted: file a lawsuit with the court within 15 days of receiving the notice ⚠️ High-frequency exam point: Commercial arbitration ≠ Labor arbitration! Commercial arbitration is final and binding and cannot be appealed; labor arbitration can be appealed within 15 days --- ## IV. Intellectual Property Protection Periods ### Patent Rights | Type | Protection Period | Start Date | |------|--------|------| | Invention patent | 20 years | Filing date | | Utility model | 10 years | Filing date | | Design | 15 years | Filing date | ### Copyright | Type | Protection Period | |------|--------| | Works by natural persons | Author's lifetime + 50 years after death | | Works by legal persons/unincorporated organizations | 50 years after first publication (if unpublished, within 50 years of creation) | | Right of authorship, right of revision, right of integrity | Perpetual protection | | Right of publication | Same as economic rights: 50 years |
• After the protection period expires → enters the public domain, anyone can use it for free ### Trademark Rights
• Registration validity period: 10 years (from the date of approval of registration)
• Apply for renewal within 12 months before expiration
• If not applied, a 6-month grace period is granted
• Each renewal is valid for 10 years, with no limit on the number of renewals --- ## V. Marriage and Family Time Limits | Item | Time Limit/Age | |------|----------| | Legal marriage age | Male 22 years old / Female 20 years old | | Divorce cooling-off period | 30 days (from the date the marriage registration authority receives the application) | | Before estate is processed | Heirs must renounce inheritance before the estate is processed in writing | | Legacy | Legatees must accept or renounce the legacy within 60 days of learning of the legacy | --- ## VI. Labor Contract Time Limits | Item | Time Limit | |------|-----| | Probation period (contract period ≥ 3 years) | No more than 6 months | | Probation period (1 year ≤ contract period < 3 years) | No more than 2 months | | Probation period (3 months ≤ contract period < 1 year) | No more than 1 month | | Labor arbitration time limit | 1 year | | Lawsuit for dissatisfaction with arbitration | Within 15 days of receiving the award | | Wage arrears dispute | Not subject to the 1-year arbitration time limit (during employment not restricted) | --- ## VII. Summary of Common Exam Traps | Common Mistake | Correct Understanding | |--------|---------| | Can you appeal an arbitration award? | ❌ Commercial arbitration is final and binding; labor arbitration can be appealed within 15 days | | Can't sue after statute of limitations expires? | ❌ You can sue; the other party gains the right to object, and the court does not apply it on its own | | After 50 years, no one cares about the work? | ❌ The right of authorship, etc., is perpetually protected; only economic rights enter the public domain | | Trademark expires and is gone? | ❌ It can be renewed, 10 years each time, with no limit on the number of renewals | | Patent protection period starts from the date of invention completion? | ❌ Starts from the filing date, not the completion date | | After the 30-day divorce cooling-off period, the divorce is automatic? | ❌ Within 30 days after the cooling-off period, both parties must appear in person to receive the certificate; otherwise, it is deemed withdrawn |