RecoverKit › Statute of Limitations by State

Statute of Limitations on Debt
All 50 States — 2026

Debt collectors have a limited time to sue you. After the statute of limitations expires, the debt is "time-barred" — they can no longer win in court. Know your rights.

⚠️ Making a payment or acknowledging the debt can restart the clock in most states
🔑 What is the Statute of Limitations on Debt? The statute of limitations is the maximum time a creditor or debt collector can legally sue you to collect a debt. After this period, the debt becomes "time-barred." Collectors can still ask you to pay — they just can't win in court. Click any state for detailed information specific to that state's laws.
State Written Contract Oral Agreement Open Account (Credit Card) Court Judgment
Alabama 6 years 6 years 6 years 20 years
Alaska 3 years 3 years 3 years 10 years
Arizona 6 years 3 years 6 years 5 years
Arkansas 5 years 3 years 5 years 10 years
California 4 years 2 years 4 years 10 years
Colorado 6 years 6 years 6 years 6 years
Connecticut 6 years 3 years 6 years 20 years
Delaware 3 years 3 years 3 years 5 years
Florida 5 years 4 years 5 years 20 years
Georgia 6 years 4 years 6 years 7 years
Hawaii 6 years 6 years 6 years 10 years
Idaho 5 years 4 years 5 years 6 years
Illinois 5 years 5 years 5 years 7 years
Indiana 6 years 6 years 6 years 10 years
Iowa 5 years 5 years 5 years 20 years
Kansas 5 years 3 years 5 years 5 years
Kentucky 5 years 5 years 5 years 15 years
Louisiana 3 years 1 years 3 years 10 years
Maine 6 years 6 years 6 years 20 years
Maryland 3 years 3 years 3 years 12 years
Massachusetts 6 years 6 years 6 years 20 years
Michigan 6 years 6 years 6 years 10 years
Minnesota 6 years 6 years 6 years 10 years
Mississippi 3 years 3 years 3 years 7 years
Missouri 5 years 5 years 5 years 10 years
Montana 8 years 5 years 5 years 10 years
Nebraska 5 years 4 years 5 years 5 years
Nevada 6 years 4 years 6 years 6 years
New Hampshire 3 years 3 years 3 years 20 years
New Jersey 6 years 6 years 6 years 20 years
New Mexico 6 years 4 years 6 years 14 years
New York 6 years 6 years 6 years 20 years
North Carolina 3 years 3 years 3 years 10 years
North Dakota 6 years 6 years 6 years 10 years
Ohio 6 years 6 years 6 years 21 years
Oklahoma 5 years 3 years 5 years 5 years
Oregon 6 years 6 years 6 years 10 years
Pennsylvania 4 years 4 years 6 years 4 years
Rhode Island 10 years 10 years 10 years 20 years
South Carolina 3 years 3 years 3 years 10 years
South Dakota 6 years 6 years 6 years 20 years
Tennessee 6 years 6 years 6 years 10 years
Texas 4 years 4 years 4 years 10 years
Utah 6 years 4 years 6 years 8 years
Vermont 6 years 6 years 6 years 8 years
Virginia 5 years 3 years 5 years 20 years
Washington 6 years 3 years 6 years 10 years
West Virginia 10 years 5 years 10 years 10 years
Wisconsin 6 years 6 years 6 years 20 years
Wyoming 8 years 8 years 8 years 5 years

Red = shorter limits (3 years or less) · Yellow = medium (4-5 years) · Green = longer (6+ years) · Click state name for full details

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What You Need to Know About Debt Statutes of Limitations

The statute of limitations on debt varies significantly by state — ranging from just 3 years in states like California (oral contracts) and Louisiana, to 10 years in states like Rhode Island and West Virginia. The type of debt also matters: written contracts, oral agreements, and open-ended accounts (like credit cards) each have their own time limits.

The clock usually starts when you made your last payment or when the debt first became delinquent. In most states, making a payment or even acknowledging the debt in writing can "re-age" the debt and restart the statute of limitations.

Time-barred debt is still debt. Even if the statute of limitations has passed, collectors can still contact you — they just can't successfully sue you. You can send a Cease & Desist letter to stop all contact.

Don't confuse this with your credit report. Negative items stay on your credit report for 7 years regardless of the statute of limitations. These are two separate timelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after the statute of limitations expires?

The debt becomes "time-barred." If a collector sues you, you can use the expired statute of limitations as a complete defense. The judge should dismiss the case. However, collectors may still attempt to collect — they're just barred from winning in court.

Can making a partial payment restart the clock?

Yes — in most states. Even a small payment can reset the statute of limitations to zero. Never make a payment on old debt without understanding your state's laws first. If a collector pressures you to "just make a small payment to show good faith," this could cost you your time-barred protection.

What if I moved to a different state?

Generally, the statute of limitations of the state where the contract was signed applies — but this varies. Some states apply the creditor's state law, others apply the debtor's current state. If you've moved, consult a consumer attorney.