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Debt Collection Laws by State
How long a creditor can sue you, how much of your paycheck can be taken, and what collectors are not allowed to do, all in plain language with a link to the law.
Last updated September 24, 2026 · all 50 states plus DC published
What's new (September 24, 2026): added Rhode Island, Alabama, Arkansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, Wyoming and the District of Columbia. Now all 50 states plus DC.
State comparison
Time limits shown are for consumer debts like credit cards. Click a state for the details, exceptions and the exact statute.
| State | Time limit to sue (credit card / written debt) | Wage garnishment for consumer debt | Does a payment restart the clock after it expires? |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4 years | Lesser of 20% of disposable pay or 40% above 48x minimum wage | Can only be extended under CCP 360 (see page) |
| Texas | 4 years | Not allowed (except child support/spousal maintenance) | No - for debt buyers, payment doesn't revive it |
| Florida | 5 years (written); 4 years (oral) | Head of family: fully protected up to $750/week | Check with legal aid - Florida's statute doesn't address it directly |
| New York | 3 years (consumer credit) | Up to 10% of gross; nothing below 30x minimum wage | No - payment or affirmation doesn't revive it |
| Pennsylvania | 4 years | Not allowed for most consumer debts | Check with legal aid - the statute doesn't address it directly |
| Illinois | 10 years (written); 5 years (oral) | Lesser of 15% of gross pay or the amount above 45x minimum wage | Yes - a written payment or new promise restarts the 10 years |
| Georgia | 6 years (written); 4 years (open account) | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above $217.50/week | Check with legal aid - see page |
| North Carolina | 3 years | Earnings needed for your family are protected | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Ohio | 6 years (consumer debt) | Protected: greater of 75% of disposable pay or 30x minimum wage/week | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Michigan | 6 years | Federal cap: lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 30x federal minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| New Jersey | 6 years | 10% max if income is at or below 250% of the poverty level | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Virginia | 5 years (signed written); 3 years (oral) | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 40x minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Washington | 6 years (written); 3 years (oral) | Consumer debt: at least 80% of disposable pay protected | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Arizona | 6 years (written and credit cards) | Lesser of 10% of disposable pay or the amount above 60x minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Massachusetts | 6 years | Protected: greater of 85% of gross pay or 50x minimum wage/week | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Indiana | 6 years | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 30x federal minimum wage (court can lower to 10%) | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Tennessee | 6 years | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 30x federal minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Missouri | 5 years (contracts); 10 years (writings promising payment) | 25% max; 10% for Missouri heads of family | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Maryland | 3 years | Protected: greater of 75% of disposable pay or 30x state minimum wage/week | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Wisconsin | 6 years | 80% of disposable pay protected; all of it if household income is below the poverty line | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Minnesota | 6 years | Sliding cap: 10%, 15% or 25% depending on income | Check with legal aid - see page |
| South Carolina | 3 years | Not allowed for consumer credit debts | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Oregon | 6 years | Protected: 75% of disposable pay, and at least $254/week | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Kentucky | 10 years (written, after July 15, 2014); 5 years (oral) | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 30x federal minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Connecticut | 6 years | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 40x minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Colorado | 6 years | Lesser of 20% of disposable pay or the amount above 40x minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Kansas | 5 years (written); 3 years (oral) | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 30x federal minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Mississippi | 3 years | Fully protected for 30 days, then lesser of 25% or the amount above 30x federal minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Nevada | 6 years (written); 4 years (oral, open account) | 18% if you earn $770/week or less; 25% above that | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Louisiana | 3 years (open accounts, money lent) | Protected: greater of 75% of disposable pay or 30x federal minimum wage/week | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Oklahoma | 5 years (written); 3 years (oral) | 75% of earnings protected | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Iowa | 10 years (written); 5 years (oral) | Yearly cap per creditor: $250 to 10% of pay, by income | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Utah | 6 years (written) | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 30x federal minimum wage | Yes - for credit agreements, a payment or written promise restarts the 6 years |
| West Virginia | 10 years (signed written); 5 years (other) | 20% max, and never below 50x federal minimum wage/week | Check with legal aid - see page |
| New Mexico | 6 years (written) | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 40x the highest applicable minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Nebraska | 5 years (written) | 25% max; 15% for heads of family | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Idaho | 5 years (written); 4 years (oral) | Lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 30x federal minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Hawaii | 6 years | 5% of the first $100/month, 10% of the next $100, 20% of the rest | Check with legal aid - see page |
| New Hampshire | 3 years | 50x federal minimum wage per week is protected | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Maine | 6 years | Consumer credit: lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 40x minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Montana | 6 years (written); 5 years (oral, accounts) | Protected: greater of 75% of disposable pay or 30x federal minimum wage/week | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Delaware | 3 years | 85% of wages protected | Check with legal aid - see page |
| South Dakota | 6 years | Max garnishment: lesser of 20% of disposable pay or amount above 40x minimum wage, less $25 per dependent | Check with legal aid - see page |
| North Dakota | 6 years | Max garnishment: lesser of 25% or amount above 40x federal minimum wage, less $20 per dependent | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Alaska | 3 years | Protected: greater of $473/week or 75% of disposable pay | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Vermont | 6 years | Consumer debts: 85% of pay or 40x federal minimum wage protected | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Wyoming | 10 years (written); 8 years (oral) | Consumer debts: max garnishment lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| District of Columbia | 3 years | Max garnishment: 25% of the amount above 40x DC minimum wage | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Rhode Island | 10 years | Federal limit applies (lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage); no wage garnishment for medical debt | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Alabama | 6 years (written promises, loans, accounts) | Max garnishment: lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage; you can ask the court to protect at least $1,000 per paycheck | Check with legal aid - see page |
| Arkansas | 5 years (written); 3 years (oral) | Federal limit applies (lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage) | Check with legal aid - see page |
Checked against each state's statute on September 24, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Federal rules that apply everywhere
Collectors can't sue on expired debt
Under the federal debt collection rule (Regulation F), a debt collector must not bring or threaten to bring a lawsuit to collect a time-barred debt, meaning a debt whose statute of limitations has run out.
12 CFR § 1006.26(b) · read the rule
Federal cap on wage garnishment
For ordinary debts, federal law caps garnishment at the lesser of 25% of disposable weekly earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage. States can protect more, and many do.
15 U.S.C. § 1673 · read the law