Statute of Limitations on Debt in Wisconsin
How long a creditor or collector has to sue you over a debt in Wisconsin, and whether a payment restarts the clock.
Short answer: 6 years for an action on any contract, obligation or liability, express or implied. Wis. Stat. 893.43(1)
| Time limit to sue on a written contract | 6 years for an action on any contract, obligation or liability, express or implied. Text from the 2023-24 Wis. Stats. as updated and certified Oct. 1, 2026. Source: Wis. Stat. 893.43(1) |
|---|---|
| Time limit for credit cards and open accounts | 6 years, the same as written contracts (contracts express or implied). Source: 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. Source: Wis. Stat. 893.45, 893.48 |
Where to get help in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (licenses collection agencies; administers the Wisconsin Consumer Act)
- File a complaint or claim
More Wisconsin debt & collections
- Wage Garnishment in Wisconsin
- How to Respond to a Debt Collection Lawsuit in Wisconsin
- What Creditors Can't Take in Wisconsin
- All Wisconsin debt & collections rules
FAQ
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Wisconsin?
6 years for an action on any contract, obligation or liability, express or implied.
How long can a creditor sue on a credit card debt in Wisconsin?
6 years, the same as written contracts (contracts express or implied).
Does making a payment restart the statute of limitations in Wisconsin?
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.
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.