If defendant be out of state before or departs after cause of action ...
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.200
in effect516.200. If defendant be out of state before or departs after cause of action commences, when action may be commenced. — If at any time when any cause of action herein specified accrues against any person who is a resident of this state, and he is absent therefrom, such action may be commenced within the times herein respectively limited, after the return of such person into the state.
(RSMo 1939 § 1023, A.L. 2009 H.B. 481) Prior revisions: 1929 § 871; 1919 § 1326; 1909 § 1897 (2001) Section denying statute of limitations defense to defendants who have moved from the state burdens interstate commerce and is unconstitutional; statute cannot be justified due to applicability of long-arm jurisdiction over such defendants. Rademeyer v. Farris, 145 F.Supp.2d 1096 (E.D.Mo.), aff'd, 284 F.3d 833 (8th Cir. 2002). (2008) Tolling statute of limitations for persons who become non-residents of Missouri during limitation period violates Commerce Clause. State ex rel. Bloomquist v. Schneider, 244 S.W.3d 139 (Mo.banc).
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.200Fetched: 10/17/2026