Debt Statute of Limitations by State (50 States + DC)
How many years a creditor or collector has to sue over an unpaid debt in each state, with the statute behind every number.
Last updated October 5, 2026 · 51 jurisdictions · Download CSV
Key point. The limit depends on the type of debt (written, oral, open account). Paying a little on an old debt can restart the clock in some states, and in some it cannot. Check the state page before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.
| State | Years to sue, by debt type | Law cited |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6 years Written promises, loans, stated accounts | Ala. Code § 6-2-34 (mirror) |
| Alaska | 3 years Contracts (written or oral) | AS 09.10.053 |
| Arizona | 6 years Written contracts and credit cards 3 years Oral debts, open accounts | A.R.S. § 12-548; A.R.S. § 12-543 |
| Arkansas | 5 years Written contracts 3 years Oral contracts | Ark. Code § 16-56-111 (mirror); Ark. Code § 16-56-105 (mirror) |
| California | 4 years Credit card / written debt 2 years Oral agreements | CCP § 337; CCP § 339 |
| Colorado | 6 years Debts for a set amount of money | C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a) |
| Connecticut | 6 years Accounts and contracts (written or not) | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576 |
| Delaware | 3 years Debts not under seal | 10 Del. C. § 8106 |
| District of Columbia | 3 years Simple contracts (express or implied) | D.C. Code § 12-301(7) |
| Florida | 5 years Written contracts 4 years Oral agreements | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b); Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(j) |
| Georgia | 6 years Written contracts 4 years Open accounts, implied promises | O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24; O.C.G.A. § 9-3-25 |
| Hawaii | 6 years Contract debts | HRS § 657-1(1) |
| Idaho | 5 years Written contracts 4 years Oral contracts | Idaho Code § 5-216; Idaho Code § 5-217 |
| Illinois | 10 years Written debts (notes, written contracts) 5 years Oral agreements | 735 ILCS 5/13-206; 735 ILCS 5/13-205 |
| Indiana | 6 years Written contracts for payment of money 6 years Accounts and oral contracts | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9; Ind. Code § 34-11-2-7 |
| Iowa | 10 years Written contracts 5 years Unwritten contracts | Iowa Code § 614.1(5); Iowa Code § 614.1(4) |
| Kansas | 5 years Written contracts 3 years Oral contracts | K.S.A. 60-511(1); K.S.A. 60-512(1) |
| Kentucky | 10 years Written contracts made after July 15, 2014 15 years Written contracts made earlier 5 years Oral contracts | KRS 413.160; KRS 413.090(2); KRS 413.120(1) |
| Louisiana | 3 years Open accounts (incl. most credit cards) and money lent | La. Civ. Code art. 3494 |
| Maine | 6 years Civil actions, incl. debts | 14 M.R.S. § 752 |
| Maryland | 3 years Most civil debts | Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 |
| Massachusetts | 6 years Contract debts | M.G.L. c. 260, § 2 |
| Michigan | 6 years Contract debts (incl. credit cards) | MCL 600.5807(9) |
| Minnesota | 6 years Contract debts | Minn. Stat. § 541.05 |
| Mississippi | 3 years Open accounts and unwritten contracts 3 years Most other debts, incl. written | Miss. Code § 15-1-29; Miss. Code § 15-1-49(1) |
| Missouri | 5 years Contracts and obligations 10 years Writings for the payment of money | RSMo § 516.120(1); RSMo § 516.110(1) |
| Montana | 6 years Written contracts 5 years Oral contracts and accounts | Mont. Code § 27-2-202(1); Mont. Code § 27-2-202(2) |
| Nebraska | 5 years Written contracts | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205 |
| Nevada | 6 years Written contracts 4 years Oral contracts and store accounts | NRS 11.190(1)(b); NRS 11.190(2) |
| New Hampshire | 3 years Personal actions, incl. debts | RSA 508:4 |
| New Jersey | 6 years Contract debts and accounts | N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 |
| New Mexico | 6 years Written contracts | N.M. Stat. § 37-1-3 |
| New York | 3 years Consumer credit debt | CPLR 214-i |
| North Carolina | 3 years Contract debts (incl. credit cards) | N.C.G.S. § 1-52(1) |
| North Dakota | 6 years Contracts (written or oral) | N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16 (mirror) |
| Ohio | 6 years Consumer debts (written or not) 6 years Written contracts 4 years Other oral contracts | R.C. 2305.07(C); R.C. 2305.06; R.C. 2305.07(A) |
| Oklahoma | 5 years Written contracts 3 years Oral contracts | 12 O.S. § 95(A)(1); 12 O.S. § 95(A)(2) |
| Oregon | 6 years Contract debts | ORS 12.080(1) |
| Pennsylvania | 4 years Written debts (incl. credit cards, notes) 4 years Oral agreements | 42 Pa.C.S. § 5525(a)(7)-(8); 42 Pa.C.S. § 5525(a)(3) |
| Rhode Island | 10 years Civil actions (contracts) | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) |
| South Carolina | 3 years Contract debts | S.C. Code § 15-3-530(1) |
| South Dakota | 6 years Contracts (written or oral) | SDCL § 15-2-13 (mirror) |
| Tennessee | 6 years Contract debts 10 years Demand notes | Tenn. Code § 28-3-109(a)(3); Tenn. Code § 28-3-109(c) |
| Texas | 4 years Debt (incl. credit cards) | Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004 |
| Utah | 6 years Written contracts 6 years from the last payment or written promise Credit agreements | Utah Code § 78B-2-309; Utah Code § 78B-2-309(2) |
| Vermont | 6 years Civil actions (contracts) | 12 V.S.A. § 511 |
| Virginia | 5 years Signed written contracts 3 years Oral or unsigned contracts 3 years from final invoice due date Medical debt | Va. Code § 8.01-246(A)(2); Va. Code § 8.01-246(A)(4); Va. Code § 8.01-246(B) |
| Washington | 6 years Written contracts and accounts receivable 3 years Oral contracts | RCW 4.16.040; RCW 4.16.080(3) |
| West Virginia | 10 years Signed written contracts 5 years Other contracts, express or implied | W. Va. Code § 55-2-6; W. Va. Code § 55-2-6 |
| Wisconsin | 6 years Contract debts | Wis. Stat. § 893.43 |
| Wyoming | 10 years Written contracts 8 years Oral contracts | Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(i) (mirror); Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(ii) (mirror) |
How we collected this
Each figure comes from the state's own statute, linked on that state's Financialist page. We copied the figures from those pages, which were each checked against the linked law. Where a state has more than one limit we list each one. Where a state's link goes to a Justia mirror of the code, the mirror is labeled. The federal rule on suing over time-barred debt is in Regulation F (12 CFR 1006.26). Laws change; read the current text before acting.
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Cite this page
Financialist Editorial Team. "Debt Statute of Limitations by State (50 States + DC)." Financialist, October 5, 2026. https://financialist.com/research/state-debt-statute-of-limitations
Free to quote with a link back. Each row links to the state page that carries the statute citation.
Financialist Editorial Team. "Debt Statute of Limitations by State (50 States + DC)." Financialist, October 5, 2026. https://financialist.com/research/state-debt-statute-of-limitations
Free to quote with a link back. Each row links to the state page that carries the statute citation.