Plaintiffs’ lawyers should have their eye on the calendar, because a critical deadline is approaching for those who wish to file certain sexual abuse claims in California. And that deadline closes on Dec. 31.

In 2019, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 218, which enhanced protections for survivors of crime and abuse. AB 218 raised the age limit for abuse survivors to bring legal action against their clergy or other church-affiliated abuser. The law gives victims of childhood sexual abuse until age 40—or five years from discovery of the abuse—to file civil lawsuits. The previous age limit had been 26, or within three years from discovery of the abuse. Perhaps most importantly, AB 218 provides a three-year lookback window for previously expired claims—but that window closes on Dec. 31, 2022, regardless of the age of the victim or how long ago the assault occurred.