Ohio Debt Collection Laws: Time Limits, Garnishment and Your Rights
Ohio debt rules: statute of limitations, wage garnishment limits, protected bank and home exemptions, judgments, collector rules and how to answer a debt lawsuit.
Quick answers for Ohio
- Time limit to sue on a written contract
- 6 years for an action on a written contract. For a consumer debt (personal, family or household purposes) the period is 6 years whether or not the agreement is in writing, and it starts 30 days after the later of the last charge or the last payment by the consumer. Ohio Rev. Code 2305.06; 2305.07(C)
- Wage garnishment limit
- Follows the federal limit: the debtor keeps the greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage per week (60 times biweekly, 65 times semimonthly, 130 times monthly). Ohio Rev. Code 2329.66(A)(13)
- Money protected in a bank account
- $625 in cash, money on deposit in a bank or credit union, tax refunds and money due within 90 days (other than wages), for April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028. Exempt benefits deposited in an account keep their own protection. Ohio Rev. Code 2329.66(A)(3), (B); Ohio Judicial Conference adjustment table
- Answering a debt lawsuit
- Serve a written answer within 28 days after you are served with the summons and complaint (Ohio Civil Rule 12(A)). Ohio Civ.R. 12(A)(1); Ohio Attorney General, Debt Collection FAQs
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Time limits
| Time limit to sue on a written contract | 6 years for an action on a written contract. For a consumer debt (personal, family or household purposes) the period is 6 years whether or not the agreement is in writing, and it starts 30 days after the later of the last charge or the last payment by the consumer. Written-contract section: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2305.06. Both periods were shortened by S.B. 13 (134th GA), effective June 16, 2021. |
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| Time limit for credit cards and open accounts | Consumer credit accounts and accounts stated, including credit cards used for personal or household purposes: 6 years, starting 30 days after the last charge or payment, whichever is later. Other contracts not in writing (oral contracts): 4 years. Source: Ohio Rev. Code 2305.07(A), (C) |
| Can a payment restart the clock? | Yes. If a payment is made on a contract debt, or the debtor signs a written acknowledgment or promise to pay, the creditor may sue within the full limitations period counted from that payment, acknowledgment or promise. Source: Ohio Rev. Code 2305.08 |
| How long a judgment lasts | A private judgment becomes dormant (and stops being a lien) unless, within 5 years after the judgment or its last renewal, the creditor issues an execution, files a certificate of judgment, garnishes, or starts a proceeding in aid of execution; each of these renews the 5-year period. A dormant judgment can be revived by an action brought within 10 years after it became dormant; interest does not accrue while it is dormant. Revival: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2325.18 |
If you are sued
| Answering a debt lawsuit | Serve a written answer within 28 days after you are served with the summons and complaint (Ohio Civil Rule 12(A)). The Ohio Attorney General advises not to ignore court papers and to file an answer if you dispute the amount or the debt. AG FAQ: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/FAQ/Debt-collection-FAQs |
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Garnishment and what creditors can't take
| Wage garnishment limit | Follows the federal limit: the debtor keeps the greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage per week (60 times biweekly, 65 times semimonthly, 130 times monthly). Source: Ohio Rev. Code 2329.66(A)(13) |
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| Money protected in a bank account | $625 in cash, money on deposit in a bank or credit union, tax refunds and money due within 90 days (other than wages), for April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028. Exempt benefits deposited in an account keep their own protection. Inflation-adjusted every three years by the Ohio Judicial Conference; the statute text still shows the older base figure ($400). Prior amount (Apr. 2022–Mar. 2025) was $550. |
| Homestead exemption | $182,625 in one parcel or item of real or personal property that the debtor or a dependent uses as a residence, for April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028. Statute: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2329.66 (base figure $125,000 in the text). Prior amount (Apr. 2022–Mar. 2025) was $161,375. |
| Vehicle exemption | $5,025 in one motor vehicle, for April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028. Prior amount (Apr. 2022–Mar. 2025) was $4,450. |
| Claiming an exemption | With a garnishment of a bank account or other non-wage property, or of wages, the debtor receives a notice with a request-for-hearing form. To claim an exemption, deliver the request for hearing to the clerk of the court that issued the garnishment no later than the end of the fifth business day after receiving the notice. The hearing covers only how much can be taken, not the judgment itself. Wage notice: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2716.06 |
| Bankruptcy exemptions | Ohio has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemptions; Ohio residents use the Ohio exemptions (including a bankruptcy-only $1,675 wildcard for April 2025–March 2028). Wildcard amount from https://www.ohiojudges.org/cdn/Exemptions.pdf |
Debt collectors and interest
| State debt collection law | Ohio has no separate debt collection statute; the Ohio Attorney General says the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, together with the federal FDCPA, protects consumers from abusive, deceptive and unfair collection practices on personal, family or household debts. A consumer may sue within one year of a violation. Debts owed to government agencies (taxes, parking tickets, child support) are not covered. |
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| Interest rate limits | Unless a written contract sets a different rate, judgments and contract debts bear interest at the statutory rate set each October by the Tax Commissioner: the federal short-term rate (rounded) plus 3 percent. Rate formula: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-5703.47. |
Where to get help in Ohio
Debt & Collections FAQ
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Ohio?
6 years for an action on a written contract. For a consumer debt (personal, family or household purposes) the period is 6 years whether or not the agreement is in writing, and it starts 30 days after the later of the last charge or the last payment by the consumer.
How long can a creditor sue on a credit card debt in Ohio?
Consumer credit accounts and accounts stated, including credit cards used for personal or household purposes: 6 years, starting 30 days after the last charge or payment, whichever is later. Other contracts not in writing (oral contracts): 4 years.
Does making a payment restart the statute of limitations in Ohio?
Yes. If a payment is made on a contract debt, or the debtor signs a written acknowledgment or promise to pay, the creditor may sue within the full limitations period counted from that payment, acknowledgment or promise.
How long does a court judgment last in Ohio?
A private judgment becomes dormant (and stops being a lien) unless, within 5 years after the judgment or its last renewal, the creditor issues an execution, files a certificate of judgment, garnishes, or starts a proceeding in aid of execution; each of these renews the 5-year period. A dormant judgment can be revived by an action brought within 10 years after it became dormant; interest does not accrue while it is dormant.
How much of my wages can be garnished in Ohio?
Follows the federal limit: the debtor keeps the greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage per week (60 times biweekly, 65 times semimonthly, 130 times monthly).
How much money in a bank account is protected from creditors in Ohio?
$625 in cash, money on deposit in a bank or credit union, tax refunds and money due within 90 days (other than wages), for April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028. Exempt benefits deposited in an account keep their own protection.
What is the homestead exemption in Ohio?
$182,625 in one parcel or item of real or personal property that the debtor or a dependent uses as a residence, for April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028.
Can a creditor take my car in Ohio?
$5,025 in one motor vehicle, for April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028.
What debt collection practices are illegal in Ohio?
Ohio has no separate debt collection statute; the Ohio Attorney General says the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, together with the federal FDCPA, protects consumers from abusive, deceptive and unfair collection practices on personal, family or household debts. A consumer may sue within one year of a violation. Debts owed to government agencies (taxes, parking tickets, child support) are not covered.
What is the maximum legal interest rate in Ohio?
Unless a written contract sets a different rate, judgments and contract debts bear interest at the statutory rate set each October by the Tax Commissioner: the federal short-term rate (rounded) plus 3 percent.
How do I respond to a debt collection lawsuit in Ohio?
Serve a written answer within 28 days after you are served with the summons and complaint (Ohio Civil Rule 12(A)). The Ohio Attorney General advises not to ignore court papers and to file an answer if you dispute the amount or the debt.
How do I stop a garnishment or claim an exemption in Ohio?
With a garnishment of a bank account or other non-wage property, or of wages, the debtor receives a notice with a request-for-hearing form. To claim an exemption, deliver the request for hearing to the clerk of the court that issued the garnishment no later than the end of the fifth business day after receiving the notice. The hearing covers only how much can be taken, not the judgment itself.
Which bankruptcy exemptions can I use in Ohio?
Ohio has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemptions; Ohio residents use the Ohio exemptions (including a bankruptcy-only $1,675 wildcard for April 2025–March 2028).
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.