Under Italian law, limitation periods depend on the type of claim.  For the purpose of the time bars examined in this article, the main statutes are the Civil Code and the Code of Navigation.  Time bars are distinguished between prescrizione and decadenza: both cannot be extended or shortened by agreement between the parties, but prescrizione can be protected by a notice of claim which will make a fresh time bar period start to run, whilst decadenza can be avoided only by court action or any other act required by the law or by the contract.