Statute of Limitations on Debt by State (2026)
How long creditors have to sue over written contracts and credit card debt in every state and DC.
| State | Time limit to sue on a written contract | Time limit for credit cards and open accounts |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 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) | 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) |
| Alaska | 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 | 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 |
| Arizona | 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) | 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 |
| Arkansas | 5 years for actions to enforce written obligations, such as a signed loan or credit agreement. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111 | 3 years for contracts not in writing, such as oral agreements and open accounts. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 |
| California | 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) | 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) |
| Colorado | 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) | 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) |
| Connecticut | 6 years for an action on a written contract, a simple or implied contract, or an account. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576(a) | 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 | 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) | 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 | 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) | 3 years, the same as all other consumer debts, including credit card and open accounts. D.C. Code § 28-3814(o) |
| Florida | 5 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a written instrument. Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b) | 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) |
| Georgia | 6 years after the debt becomes due and payable for an action on a simple written contract. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24 | 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 |
| Hawaii | 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) | 6 years, the same as other contract debts, including credit card and open accounts. HRS § 657-1(1) |
| Idaho | 5 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a written instrument. Idaho Code § 5-216 | 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 |
| Illinois | 10 years for an action on a written contract, such as a signed loan agreement or promissory note. 735 ILCS 5/13-206 | 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 |
| Indiana | 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 | 6 years for accounts and contracts not in writing. IC 34-11-2-7 |
| Iowa | 10 years for actions founded on written contracts. Claims for unpaid rent have a separate 5-year limit. Iowa Code § 614.1(5) | 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) |
| Kansas | 5 years for an action on any written agreement, contract or promise. K.S.A. 60-511(1) | 3 years for contracts, obligations or liabilities not in writing, such as oral agreements and many open accounts. K.S.A. 60-512(1) |
| Kentucky | 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) | 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 | 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 | 3 years for an action on an open account, on money lent, or for unpaid rent. La. C.C. art. 3494(2)-(4) |
| Maine | 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 | 6 years, the same general period that applies to written and oral contracts. 14 M.R.S. § 752 |
| Maryland | 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 | 3 years, the general period for civil actions, including credit card and open-account debts. Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 |
| Massachusetts | 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 | 6 years, the same general contract period. M.G.L. c. 260, § 2 |
| Michigan | 6 years to sue for breach of contract, written or oral. MCL 600.5807(1), (9) | 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) |
| Minnesota | 6 years for consumer debts (personal, family or household) and for contract actions generally. Minn. Stat. § 541.053; § 541.05 | 6 years for any consumer debt, including credit cards. Minn. Stat. § 541.053 |
| Mississippi | 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 | 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 |
| Missouri | 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) | 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) |
| Montana | 6 years for an action on a contract or obligation founded on a written instrument. Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1) | 5 years for a contract, account or promise not founded on a written instrument. Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2) |
| Nebraska | 5 years for an action on a written agreement, contract or promise. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205(1) | 4 years for a contract not in writing, express or implied. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-206 |
| Nevada | 6 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a written instrument. NRS 11.190(1)(b) | 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) |
| New Hampshire | 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 | 3 years, the same general period for personal actions. RSA 508:4, I |
| New Jersey | 6 years for a contract claim, written or oral (express or implied, not under seal). N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 | 6 years, the same as other contract claims. N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 |
| New Mexico | 6 years for an action on a promissory note or other contract in writing. NMSA 1978, § 37-1-3(A) | 4 years for actions on accounts and unwritten contracts. NMSA 1978, § 37-1-4 |
| New York | 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 | 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 |
| North Carolina | 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) | 3 years, the same as other contract claims. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1) |
| North Dakota | 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) | 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 |
| 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. Ohio Rev. Code 2305.06; 2305.07(C) | 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) |
| Oklahoma | 5 years for an action on a contract, agreement or promise in writing. 12 O.S. 95(A)(1) | 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) |
| Oregon | 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) | 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) |
| Pennsylvania | 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) | 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 | 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 | 10 years, the same general civil period that applies to written contracts. R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-13(a) |
| South Carolina | 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 | 3 years, the same as written contracts; South Carolina uses one period for contracts express or implied. S.C. Code 15-3-530(1) |
| South Dakota | 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) | 6 years, the same as written contracts (contracts express or implied). SDCL 15-2-13(1) |
| Tennessee | 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) | 6 years, the same as written contracts. T.C.A. 28-3-109(a)(3) |
| Texas | 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 | 4 years, the same as other debts, whether the agreement is written or oral. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.004(a)(3) |
| Utah | 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) | 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) |
| Vermont | 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 | 6 years, the same general period. 12 V.S.A. 511 |
| Virginia | 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) | 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) |
| Washington | 6 years for an action on a written contract or a liability arising from a written agreement. RCW 4.16.040(1) | 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) |
| West Virginia | 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 | 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 |
| Wisconsin | 6 years for an action on any contract, obligation or liability, express or implied. Wis. Stat. 893.43(1) | 6 years, the same as written contracts (contracts express or implied). Wis. Stat. 893.43(1) |
| Wyoming | 10 years for an action on a specialty or any contract, agreement or promise in writing. Wyo. Stat. 1-3-105(a)(i) | 8 years for a contract not in writing, express or implied (including oral agreements). Wyo. Stat. 1-3-105(a)(ii) |
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.