How long can a debt collector pursue an old debt?
Short answer: Each state sets a statute of limitations for suing on a debt, often between 3 and 10 years. After it runs out, a collector generally cannot win a lawsuit, though the debt may still exist. Here is the limit in each state.
The rule in every state
Each answer links to the statute or official page it comes from (51 of 51 jurisdictions verified).
| State | The rule |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for actions founded on promises in writing not under seal, such as a signed loan or credit agreement. Ala. Code § 6-2-34(4) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years for claims on an open or unliquidated account, counted from the last item on the account or from when the account is due. Claims for money due on a loan or on a stated (agreed) or liquidated account have 6 years. Which period applies to a credit card debt depends on the account and how the claim is brought. Ala. Code § 6-2-37(1); § 6-2-34(5) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes, in two cases only: a partial payment on the debt made by the debtor before the limitations period runs out, or an unconditional promise to pay in writing signed by the debtor. No other act, promise or acknowledgment restarts the period. Ala. Code § 6-2-16 |
| Alaska | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 3 years for an action on a contract or liability, express or implied, unless another law sets a different period. Alaska uses the same period for written and oral contracts. Actions on a sealed instrument have 10 years. AS 09.10.053; AS 09.10.040 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years, the same as other contracts. AS 09.10.053 covers contracts and liabilities whether express or implied, which includes credit card accounts and oral agreements. AS 09.10.053 Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or promise to pay keeps a debt alive only if it is in writing and signed by the debtor. The statute states that this rule does not change the effect of a payment of principal or interest. AS 09.10.200 |
| Arizona | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for a debt based on a written contract signed in Arizona. If another state's limitations period conflicts, Arizona's 6-year rule applies to these debts. A.R.S. § 12-548(A)(1), (B) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: Credit card debt has 6 years under the same statute as written contracts. Debts not evidenced by a written contract (such as oral agreements) and stated or open accounts have 3 years. A.R.S. § 12-548(A)(2); § 12-543 Can a payment restart the clock?: Once a claim is time-barred, an acknowledgment that the debt is owed revives it only if the acknowledgment is in writing and signed by the debtor. A.R.S. § 12-508 |
| Arkansas | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 5 years for actions to enforce written obligations, such as a signed loan or credit agreement. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years for contracts not in writing, such as oral agreements and open accounts. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. For written obligations, a partial payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt restarts the limitations period. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111 |
| California | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 4 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a written instrument. Once the period has run, a creditor or collector may not sue or start arbitration to collect the debt, and the period can be extended only under the written-acknowledgment rule (CCP § 360). Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337(a), (d) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years for a book account, an account stated based on a written account, or the balance of a mutual, open and current account with written items. 2 years for a contract not founded on a writing, such as an oral agreement. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337(b); § 339(1) Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or promise to pay extends the period only if it is in writing and signed by the debtor. A payment on a promissory note restarts the period for that note, but a payment by itself does not revive a debt that is already time-barred. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 360 |
| Colorado | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for actions to recover a liquidated debt or a determinable amount of money due, and for enforcing any instrument that secures or evidences a debt. Most consumer debts with a set balance fall in this category. Other contract claims generally have 3 years. C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a); § 13-80-101(1)(a) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: The 6-year period for liquidated or determinable debts generally applies to credit card and other account balances, whether or not there is a signed writing. Contract claims that are not for a liquidated or determinable amount have 3 years. C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a); § 13-80-101(1)(a) Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or promise to pay extends the limitations period only if it is in writing and signed by the debtor. The statute states that this rule does not change the effect of a payment of principal or interest. C.R.S. § 13-80-113 |
| Connecticut | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on a written contract, a simple or implied contract, or an account. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576(a) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years for an action on an account, the same as written contracts. An express contract that is not in writing and not evidenced by a signed note or memorandum has 3 years. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576(a); § 52-581(a) |
| Delaware | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 3 years. Actions based on a promise, and actions to recover a debt not evidenced by a record or by an instrument under seal, must be brought within 3 years after the claim accrues. Delaware does not set a separate, longer period for ordinary written consumer contracts. A written contract involving at least $100,000 may set its own period of up to 20 years. 10 Del. C. § 8106(a), (c) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years, the same as other promises and debts not under seal. For a mutual and running account between the parties, the claim may accrue later. 10 Del. C. §§ 8106(a), 8108 |
| District of Columbia | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 3 years. Any lawsuit to collect a consumer debt filed on or after September 1, 2021 must be started within 3 years after the claim accrues, whether it is based on a written contract, account stated, open account or any other theory, and even for contracts under seal. Other simple contracts also have 3 years. D.C. Code § 28-3814(o); § 12-301(7) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years, the same as all other consumer debts, including credit card and open accounts. D.C. Code § 28-3814(o) Can a payment restart the clock?: No. Once the limitations period on a consumer debt has run out, a later payment or a written or oral acknowledgment of the debt does not extend or restart it. A debt collector may not sue on a consumer debt when it knows or should know the period has expired. D.C. Code § 28-3814(l), (f)(10) |
| Florida | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 5 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a written instrument. Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years for a contract, obligation or liability not founded on a written instrument, including store accounts. An action to collect medical debt for services at a licensed hospital or other facility has 3 years, counted from when the facility refers the debt to a third party for collection. Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(j), (4) Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment of, or promise to pay, a debt that is already time-barred must be in writing and signed by the debtor to be enforceable. Fla. Stat. § 95.04 |
| Georgia | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years after the debt becomes due and payable for an action on a simple written contract. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years for open accounts, for contracts not signed by the person being sued (such as oral agreements), and for implied promises. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-25 Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes, if in writing. A new promise to pay restarts the period (or revives a barred debt) only if it is in writing, in the debtor's handwriting or signed by the debtor or someone authorized. A payment recorded on a written evidence of the debt, or any other written acknowledgment of the debt, counts as a new promise. O.C.G.A. §§ 9-3-110, 9-3-112 |
| Hawaii | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years from when the claim arises, for an action to recover a debt founded on any contract, obligation or liability. Hawaii uses the same period for written and oral contracts. HRS § 657-1(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same as other contract debts, including credit card and open accounts. HRS § 657-1(1) |
| Idaho | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 5 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a written instrument. Idaho Code § 5-216 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years for a contract, obligation or liability not founded on a written instrument, such as an oral agreement or open account. Idaho Code § 5-217 Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. A written acknowledgment or promise signed by the debtor restarts the period, and any payment of principal or interest counts the same as a signed written promise to pay the rest of the debt. Idaho Code § 5-238 |
| Illinois | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 10 years for an action on a written contract, such as a signed loan agreement or promissory note. 735 ILCS 5/13-206 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 5 years for unwritten contracts, express or implied, and for civil actions not otherwise provided for. Which period applies to a credit card or other account debt depends on whether the creditor can prove a written contract containing the terms. 735 ILCS 5/13-205 Can a payment restart the clock?: For written contracts and other written evidence of debt, if a payment or a new promise to pay is made in writing, a new 10-year period starts from the date of that payment or promise. 735 ILCS 5/13-206 |
| Indiana | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for written contracts for the payment of money (signed after August 31, 1982), such as loans and credit agreements. 10 years for other written contracts. IC 34-11-2-9; IC 34-11-2-11 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years for accounts and contracts not in writing. IC 34-11-2-7 Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or promise to pay restarts or revives the limitations period only if it is in writing and signed by the debtor. IC 34-11-9-1 |
| Iowa | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 10 years for actions founded on written contracts. Claims for unpaid rent have a separate 5-year limit. Iowa Code § 614.1(5) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 5 years for actions founded on unwritten contracts, which can include open accounts that are not based on a signed written agreement. Iowa Code § 614.1(4) Can a payment restart the clock?: A contract debt is revived by a written admission, signed by the debtor, that the debt is unpaid, or by a similar signed written promise to pay. Iowa Code § 614.11 |
| Kansas | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 5 years for an action on any written agreement, contract or promise. K.S.A. 60-511(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years for contracts, obligations or liabilities not in writing, such as oral agreements and many open accounts. K.S.A. 60-512(1) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. A partial payment of principal or interest restarts the full limitations period from the date of payment. A written acknowledgment of the debt or promise to pay, signed by the debtor, also restarts it. An oral acknowledgment does not. K.S.A. 60-520(a) |
| Kentucky | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 10 years to sue on a written contract signed after July 15, 2014. 15 years for written contracts signed on or before that date. KRS 413.160; KRS 413.090(2) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 5 years for a contract that is not in writing (an oral agreement). Kentucky's statutes do not set a separate period for credit cards or open accounts. KRS 413.120(1) |
| Louisiana | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 10 years for most contract claims ('personal actions'), whether the contract is written or oral, unless a shorter period applies. Debts on money lent and on open accounts have a shorter 3-year period. La. C.C. art. 3499; art. 3494 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years for an action on an open account, on money lent, or for unpaid rent. La. C.C. art. 3494(2)-(4) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. Prescription (the limitations period) is interrupted when the debtor acknowledges the creditor's right, and a new period begins. La. C.C. art. 3464 |
| Maine | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for most civil actions, including suits on written or oral contracts. 20 years only for contracts under seal or promissory notes signed in front of an attesting witness. 14 M.R.S. § 752; 14 M.R.S. § 751 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same general period that applies to written and oral contracts. 14 M.R.S. § 752 Can a payment restart the clock?: For contract debts, an acknowledgment or new promise extends the time to sue only if it is express, in writing, and signed by the person who owes the debt. An acknowledgment by one co-signer does not affect the others. 14 M.R.S. § 860 |
| Maryland | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 3 years for a civil action on a contract, written or oral. 12 years for a contract under seal (a 'specialty'), but the 12-year period does not apply to hospital debt owed by a consumer. Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101; § 5-102 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years, the general period for civil actions, including credit card and open-account debts. Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 Can a payment restart the clock?: For consumer debt, once the limitations period has run out, a payment, a written or oral acknowledgment, or any other activity on the debt does not revive or extend it, and a creditor or collector may not sue on the time-barred debt. A separate written payment agreement made before the period expired can carry its own limitations period. Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-1202 |
| Massachusetts | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for contract actions, express or implied, written or oral. 20 years for contracts under seal. M.G.L. c. 260, § 2; c. 260, § 1 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same general contract period. M.G.L. c. 260, § 2 Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or new promise extends the time to sue on a contract only if it is made in, or contained in, a writing signed by the person who owes the debt. M.G.L. c. 260, § 13 |
| Michigan | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years to sue for breach of contract, written or oral. MCL 600.5807(1), (9) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same as other contract claims. Michigan law does not set a separate period for credit cards or open accounts. MCL 600.5807(9) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes, but only in writing. A contract debt that is already time-barred is revived by an acknowledgment or promise to pay, but only if it is in a writing signed by the person who owes the debt. MCL 600.5866 |
| Minnesota | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for consumer debts (personal, family or household) and for contract actions generally. Minn. Stat. § 541.053; § 541.05 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years for any consumer debt, including credit cards. Minn. Stat. § 541.053 Can a payment restart the clock?: For consumer debt, once the 6-year period has expired it is not revived by collecting a payment, by a bankruptcy discharge, or by an oral or written reaffirmation of the debt. Minn. Stat. § 541.053 |
| Mississippi | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 3 years. Mississippi's general catch-all period of 3 years applies to written contracts, and unwritten contracts are expressly 3 years. Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49(1); § 15-1-29 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years for an open account or account stated not acknowledged in a signed writing, and for any unwritten contract (except where the Uniform Commercial Code provides otherwise). Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-29 Can a payment restart the clock?: For contract debts, an acknowledgment or promise extends the time to sue only if it is in a writing signed by the person who owes the debt. One co-obligor's acknowledgment does not bind the others. Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-73 |
| Missouri | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 10 years for an action on a writing that promises to pay money. 5 years for other contract actions, including oral agreements. RSMo 516.110(1); RSMo 516.120(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 5 years for contracts, obligations or liabilities, express or implied, other than writings for the payment of money. Whether a credit card account is a 'writing for the payment of money' (10 years) depends on the documents and court decisions. RSMo 516.120(1) Can a payment restart the clock?: For contract debts, an acknowledgment or promise extends or revives the time to sue only if it is in a writing signed by the person who owes the debt. RSMo 516.320 |
| Montana | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on a contract or obligation founded on a written instrument. Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 5 years for a contract, account or promise not founded on a written instrument. Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. A written, signed acknowledgment of the debt or a partial payment (any payment of principal or interest) starts the limitations period running again. Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-409 |
| Nebraska | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 5 years for an action on a written agreement, contract or promise. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years for a contract not in writing, express or implied. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-206 Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. A voluntary partial payment of principal or interest, or a written acknowledgment or written promise to pay, starts a new limitations period from the date of the payment, acknowledgment or promise. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-216 |
| Nevada | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a written instrument. NRS 11.190(1)(b) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years for an open account for goods sold and delivered, a store account, or a contract not founded on a written instrument. NRS 11.190(2)(a)-(c) Can a payment restart the clock?: Before the period expires, a payment on principal or interest restarts the period from the date of the last payment, and the period also runs from the last transaction, item charged or credit given. A written, signed acknowledgment or promise can also extend it. But once the period has expired, a payment, affirmation of the debt or other activity by the debtor does not revive it. NRS 11.200; NRS 11.390 |
| New Hampshire | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 3 years for personal actions, including suits on written or oral contracts. Contracts under seal have 20 years. RSA 508:4, I; RSA 508:5 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years, the same general period for personal actions. RSA 508:4, I |
| New Jersey | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for a contract claim, written or oral (express or implied, not under seal). N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same as other contract claims. N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 |
| New Mexico | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on a promissory note or other contract in writing. NMSA 1978, § 37-1-3(A) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years for actions on accounts and unwritten contracts. NMSA 1978, § 37-1-4 Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. A contract claim is revived by any partial or installment payment, or by a written, signed admission that the debt is unpaid or a written new promise to pay. The period then runs from the date of that payment, admission or promise. NMSA 1978, § 37-1-16 |
| New York | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for contract actions generally. But a lawsuit against a consumer arising from a consumer credit transaction (such as a credit card or consumer loan) must be brought within 3 years. N.Y. CPLR 213(2); CPLR 214-i Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years for actions on consumer credit transactions, including credit cards. 3 years from treatment for medical debt suits by hospitals or licensed health care professionals. N.Y. CPLR 214-i; CPLR 213-d Can a payment restart the clock?: For consumer credit debts, once the 3-year period expires, a later payment, affirmation of the debt or other activity does not revive or extend it. For other contract claims, only a written, signed acknowledgment or promise can take a claim out of the limitations period; the effect of a payment is left to other law. N.Y. CPLR 214-i; Gen. Oblig. Law § 17-101 |
| North Carolina | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 3 years for an action on a contract, written or oral. 10 years for a sealed instrument. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1); § 1-47(2) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years, the same as other contract claims. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1) Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or new promise restarts the limitations period only if it is in a writing signed by the person who owes the debt; the statute does not change the effect of a payment of principal or interest. Debt collectors may not seek a written acknowledgment of a time-barred debt without disclosing its consequences and that the consumer is not legally required to give it. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-26; § 75-55(1) |
| North Dakota | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability, express or implied. North Dakota uses the same period for written and oral contracts. N.D.C.C. 28-01-16(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same as other contracts (express or implied). For a mutual, open and current account with reciprocal demands, the claim accrues from the last item proved in the account on either side. N.D.C.C. 28-01-16(1), 28-01-37 Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or new promise extends the limitations period only if it is in a writing signed by the debtor. The statute states that this writing rule does not change the effect of a payment of principal or interest. N.D.C.C. 28-01-36 |
| 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) 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. 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. Ohio Rev. Code 2305.08 |
| Oklahoma | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 5 years for an action on a contract, agreement or promise in writing. 12 O.S. 95(A)(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years for a contract, express or implied, that is not in writing (including oral agreements). Oklahoma has no separate statute for credit card or open accounts; which period applies depends on whether the agreement is a written contract. 12 O.S. 95(A)(2) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. In a contract case, if any part of the principal or interest is paid, or the debtor acknowledges the debt or promises to pay it, a new full limitations period runs from that payment, acknowledgment or promise. An acknowledgment or promise must be in writing and signed by the debtor. 12 O.S. 101 |
| Oregon | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on a contract or liability, express or implied. Oregon uses the same period for written and oral contracts. ORS 12.080(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same as written contracts, because ORS 12.080(1) covers contracts express or implied (including oral agreements and credit accounts). ORS 12.080(1) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes for payments: when a payment of principal or interest is made after a debt is due, the limitations period starts again from the last payment. An acknowledgment or new promise extends the period only if it is in a writing signed by the debtor. ORS 12.230, 12.240 |
| Pennsylvania | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 4 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a writing. A written instrument under seal has a 20-year limit. 42 Pa.C.S. 5525(a)(8); 5529(b)(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years, the same as written contracts; oral (express) contracts not founded on a writing also have a 4-year limit. 42 Pa.C.S. 5525(a)(3) |
| Rhode Island | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 10 years. Rhode Island's general civil limitations period covers contract claims, written or oral. Contracts under seal have 20 years. R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-13(a); 9-1-17 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 10 years, the same general civil period that applies to written contracts. R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-13(a) |
| South Carolina | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 3 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability, express or implied (written or oral). Instruments under seal are excepted. S.C. Code 15-3-530(1); 15-3-520 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years, the same as written contracts; South Carolina uses one period for contracts express or implied. S.C. Code 15-3-530(1) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. A written acknowledgment or promise signed by the debtor, or a payment of any part of the principal or interest (which the law treats as a written promise), prevents the limitations bar. The suit is then brought on the original debt. S.C. Code 15-3-120, 15-3-130 |
| South Dakota | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability, express or implied. South Dakota uses the same period for written and oral contracts. SDCL 15-2-13(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same as written contracts (contracts express or implied). SDCL 15-2-13(1) Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or new promise extends the limitations period only if it is in a writing signed by the debtor. The statute states that this writing rule does not change the effect of a payment of principal or interest. SDCL 15-2-29 |
| Tennessee | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for actions on contracts not otherwise provided for. The same period applies to written and oral contracts. T.C.A. 28-3-109(a)(3) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same as written contracts. T.C.A. 28-3-109(a)(3) |
| Texas | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 4 years. A suit on a debt must be brought within four years after the claim accrues; the residual period for claims with no other stated period is also four years. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.004(a)(3), 16.051 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years, the same as other debts, whether the agreement is written or oral. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.004(a)(3) Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment of a debt that appears time-barred counts only if it is in writing and signed by the debtor. For consumer debt owned by a debt buyer, once the 4-year period has run the debt buyer may not sue or arbitrate, and the claim is not revived by a payment, an oral or written reaffirmation, or any other activity on the debt. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.065; Tex. Fin. Code 392.307(c)-(d) |
| Utah | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on an instrument in writing. For a credit agreement, the 6 years run from the latest of when the debt arose, the debtor's last written acknowledgment or promise to pay, or the last payment by the debtor or a third party. Utah Code 78B-2-309(1)(b), (2) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 4 years after the last charge or last payment for a contract not founded on a written instrument (oral contracts), an open store account for goods, or an open account for work, labor, services or materials. Utah Code 78B-2-307(1) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. A suit to recover a debt may be brought within the limitations period counted from the date the debt arose, the date the debtor makes a written acknowledgment or promise to pay, or the date the debtor makes a payment. Utah Code 78B-2-113(1) |
| Vermont | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years. Vermont's general civil-action limitations period (six years after the claim accrues) applies to contract debts, written or oral. 12 V.S.A. 511 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same general period. 12 V.S.A. 511 Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or promise to pay affects the limitations defense only if it is in writing and signed by the debtor. The limitations chapter does not take away the effect of a payment of principal or interest. 12 V.S.A. 591, 592 |
| Virginia | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 5 years for an action on a written contract signed by the person being sued (or their agent). Va. Code 8.01-246(A)(2) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years for an unwritten contract (express or implied) or a written contract not signed by the person being sued. Medical debt owed to a health care provider: 3 years from the due date of the final invoice (or from a breach of a payment plan). Va. Code 8.01-246(A)(4), (B) Can a payment restart the clock?: A new promise to pay, in a writing signed by the debtor or the debtor's agent, starts a new limitations period measured from the promise; a written acknowledgment from which a promise to pay can be implied counts as such a promise. Va. Code 8.01-229(G) |
| Washington | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on a written contract or a liability arising from a written agreement. RCW 4.16.040(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 3 years for a contract or liability not in writing (oral agreements and accounts not founded on a written agreement). RCW 4.16.080(3) Can a payment restart the clock?: A payment made before the limitations period expires restarts the period from the most recent payment. A written, signed acknowledgment or promise can also extend it. But a payment, acknowledgment or promise made after the period has expired does not restart, revive or extend it. RCW 4.16.270, 4.16.280 |
| West Virginia | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 10 years for an action on a contract in writing signed by the person being sued (or their agent), or under seal. W. Va. Code 55-2-6 Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 5 years for any other contract, express or implied (including oral agreements and accounts not founded on a signed writing). W. Va. Code 55-2-6 Can a payment restart the clock?: A promise to pay in a writing signed by the debtor (or agent), or a written acknowledgment from which a promise to pay can be implied, starts a new limitations period measured from the promise. An oral promise does not. W. Va. Code 55-2-8 |
| Wisconsin | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 6 years for an action on any contract, obligation or liability, express or implied. Wis. Stat. 893.43(1) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 6 years, the same as written contracts (contracts express or implied). Wis. Stat. 893.43(1) Can a payment restart the clock?: An acknowledgment or new promise takes a debt out of the limitations period only if it is in a writing signed by the debtor. The statute keeps the effect of a payment of principal or interest, but a creditor's own note of a payment on a document is not enough proof of it. Wis. Stat. 893.45, 893.48 |
| Wyoming | Time limit to sue on a written contract: 10 years for an action on a specialty or any contract, agreement or promise in writing. Wyo. Stat. 1-3-105(a)(i) Time limit for credit cards and open accounts: 8 years for a contract not in writing, express or implied (including oral agreements). Wyo. Stat. 1-3-105(a)(ii) Can a payment restart the clock?: Yes. When a payment is made on a contract debt, or the debtor signs a written acknowledgment or promise to pay, the time to sue runs again from the date of that payment, acknowledgment or promise. Wyo. Stat. 1-3-119 |
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.