⏳ DEBT STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS · BY STATE
Debt statute of limitations, state by state
A debt’s statute of limitations is the window a creditor or collector has to SUE you to collect it. Once it passes, the debt is “time-barred” — you can still be asked to pay, but a court can no longer force you to, if you raise the limitation as a defense. The clock length depends on your state and on the TYPE of debt (written contract, oral agreement, open account, or promissory note), and it usually runs from your last payment or activity on the account.
Pick your state
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AlabamaAla. Code § 6-2-34; § 6-2-37⏳
AlaskaAlaska Stat. § 09.10.053⏳
ArizonaAriz. Rev. Stat. § 12-548; § 12-543⏳
ArkansasArk. Code § 16-56-105; § 16-56-111⏳
CaliforniaCal. Civ. Proc. Code § 337; § 339⏳
ColoradoColo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5⏳
ConnecticutConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576; § 52-581⏳
DelawareDel. Code tit. 10, § 8106⏳
FloridaFla. Stat. § 95.11⏳
GeorgiaGa. Code § 9-3-24; § 9-3-25⏳
HawaiiHaw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1⏳
IdahoIdaho Code § 5-216; § 5-217⏳
Illinois735 ILCS 5/13-206; 5/13-205⏳
IndianaInd. Code § 34-11-2-9; § 34-11-2-7⏳
IowaIowa Code § 614.1⏳
KansasKan. Stat. § 60-511; § 60-512⏳
KentuckyKy. Rev. Stat. § 413.160; § 413.120⏳
LouisianaLa. Civ. Code art. 3494, 3498, 3499⏳
MaineMe. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752⏳
MarylandMd. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101⏳
MassachusettsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2⏳
MichiganMich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807⏳
MinnesotaMinn. Stat. § 541.05⏳
MississippiMiss. Code § 15-1-29; § 15-1-49⏳
MissouriMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.110; § 516.120⏳
MontanaMont. Code § 27-2-202⏳
NebraskaNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205; § 25-206⏳
NevadaNev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190⏳
New HampshireN.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4⏳
New JerseyN.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1⏳
New MexicoN.M. Stat. § 37-1-3; § 37-1-4⏳
New YorkN.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213; § 214-i⏳
North CarolinaN.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52⏳
North DakotaN.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16⏳
OhioOhio Rev. Code § 2305.06; § 2305.07⏳
OklahomaOkla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95⏳
OregonOr. Rev. Stat. § 12.080⏳
Pennsylvania42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525⏳
Rhode IslandR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13⏳
South CarolinaS.C. Code § 15-3-530⏳
South DakotaS.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13⏳
TennesseeTenn. Code § 28-3-109⏳
TexasTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004⏳
UtahUtah Code § 78B-2-309; § 78B-2-307⏳
VermontVt. Stat. tit. 12, § 511⏳
VirginiaVa. Code § 8.01-246⏳
WashingtonWash. Rev. Code § 4.16.040⏳
West VirginiaW. Va. Code § 55-2-6⏳
WisconsinWis. Stat. § 893.43⏳
WyomingWyo. Stat. § 1-3-105Every state page carries a verified citation linked to the primary source — no AI-generated statutes, ever. More states as we verify them.
What debt statutes of limitations law covers
Debt type decides the clockStates set different periods for written contracts, oral agreements, open/revolving accounts, and promissory notes. Which category a credit card falls into varies by state, and it changes the deadline.
Time-barred does not mean gonePassing the deadline doesn’t erase the debt or remove it from your credit report on its own — it bars the lawsuit. A collector can still ask you to pay; you have to assert the limitation.
Restarting the clockIn many states, making a payment, promising to pay, or acknowledging the debt in writing can RESET the limitations period — which is why you check the date before you say or pay anything.
Being sued on old debtCollectors do sue on time-barred debt, betting you won’t respond. A default judgment is how those cases are usually won — so a time-barred debt still requires you to answer and raise the defense.
Your document, against your state’s law.
The analyzer reads your actual document clause by clause and cites the governing statute for each finding.
Run the Debt SOL Checker — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.