Statute of Limitations on Debt by State
Once statute of limitations expires, collectors can't sue you for the debt. Most consumers don't know their state's limit and pay debts they no longer owe. Here's the full table.
Get my free action plan âÃÂÃÂThe statute of limitations on debt is the legal time limit during which a creditor or collector can file a lawsuit to collect. Once it expires, the debt becomes "time-barred" âÃÂàthey can still ask you to pay, but they can't sue you successfully. Critical knowledge before responding to any old collection notice.
State-by-state table (2026 data)
SOL varies by state AND by debt type. The table below shows the most common: written contracts (credit cards), oral contracts, and open-end accounts (revolving credit).
| State | Written contract | Open-end (credit card) | Oral contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Alaska | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Arizona | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| Arkansas | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| California | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Colorado | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Connecticut | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| Delaware | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Florida | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Georgia | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| Hawaii | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Idaho | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Illinois | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Indiana | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Iowa | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Kansas | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Kentucky | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Louisiana | 10 | 3 | 10 |
| Maine | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Maryland | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Massachusetts | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Michigan | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Minnesota | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Mississippi | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Missouri | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Montana | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Nebraska | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Nevada | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| New Jersey | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| New Mexico | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| New York | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| North Dakota | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Ohio | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Oklahoma | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Oregon | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Rhode Island | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| South Carolina | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| South Dakota | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Tennessee | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Texas | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Utah | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Vermont | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Virginia | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Washington | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| West Virginia | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Wisconsin | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Wyoming | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| District of Columbia | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Time in years. Always verify with state-specific consumer protection attorney before relying on these numbers âÃÂàstate laws change.
How statute of limitations works
The clock starts ticking from the date of LAST ACTIVITY on the account âÃÂàtypically the date of last payment or last charge. NOT the date the debt was originated.
The clock can RESET if you:
- Make any payment, even $5 partial
- Verbally acknowledge the debt as yours
- Sign any new agreement (settlement, payment plan)
- Make a written promise to pay
What to do if you suspect SOL has expired
- Confirm the date of last activity. Pull your credit report (free at AnnualCreditReport.com) âÃÂàthe date of first delinquency is shown for each tradeline.
- Confirm your state's SOL for that debt type. Use the table above; verify with state-specific source.
- If past statute: send a "cease and desist" letter instead of validation. Use language like: "This debt is past the statute of limitations under [state law]. I will not be making any payments on this debt. Cease all collection efforts immediately."
- If they sue anyway: raise the statute of limitations as an affirmative defense in court. The case will be dismissed.
- Watch out for "zombie debt buyers" who specifically buy time-barred debt cheaply and try to collect by tricking consumers into making any payment (which resets SOL).
What does NOT extend statute of limitations
- Receiving a collection letter (collectors can keep contacting you forever; they just can't SUE)
- The debt being sold to a new collector (clock continues from original last activity)
- Disputing the debt
- Sending a debt validation letter
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Try the action plan tool âÃÂÃÂFrequently Asked Questions
- Can a collector still try to collect time-barred debt?
- Yes âÃÂàthey can keep sending letters and making calls (within FDCPA limits). They can also keep reporting it to credit bureaus until 7 years after first delinquency. What they CAN'T do is win a lawsuit against you because you have an absolute defense.
- What if they sue me for time-barred debt?
- You MUST appear in court. If you don't respond, they get default judgment regardless of SOL. When you appear, raise statute of limitations as an affirmative defense âÃÂàcase will be dismissed. If you fail to raise it, you waive the defense.
- Does paying time-barred debt restart the statute?
- Yes âÃÂàeven a $1 payment can restart the entire SOL clock. This is why debt buyers will offer to settle for "any amount" on time-barred debt; they're trying to reset the clock. Refuse all payment offers on time-barred debt.
- Does statute of limitations apply to federal student loans?
- No. Federal student loans have NO statute of limitations and can be collected indefinitely (including via wage garnishment and tax refund offset). Private student loans DO have SOL per state law.
- What about the credit reporting time limit?
- Separate from SOL. Credit reporting limit is 7 years from first delinquency for most debts (10 years for bankruptcy). After 7 years, the debt must be removed from your credit report regardless of whether SOL has expired.
Related guides
Educational only âÃÂànot legal or financial advice. Debt-collection laws vary by state and federal jurisdiction. Consult a consumer-protection attorney for your specific situation, especially before responding to a lawsuit or signing any settlement agreement.