Statute of Limitations on Debt by State — 2026 Guide
The statute of limitations on debt is the legal deadline for collectors to sue you. After this date the debt is time-barred — collectors can still contact you but cannot win in court. It ranges from 3 years (Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina) to 10 years (Rhode Island, West Virginia). Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can restart the clock in most states.
What is the statute of limitations on debt?
The statute of limitations on debt is the legally enforceable deadline for a creditor or collector to sue you. It begins on the date of your first missed payment to the original creditor. Once expired, the debt is time-barred: you have an absolute affirmative defense to any lawsuit, and threatening one becomes an FDCPA violation under § 807.
Statute of limitations by state — complete table
Years until a debt becomes time-barred, by state and debt type.
| State | Credit Card | Medical | Auto Loan | Written Contract | Oral Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Alaska | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Arizona | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Arkansas | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 5 yrs | 3 yrs |
| California | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 2 yrs |
| Colorado | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Connecticut | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Delaware | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 4 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Florida | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs |
| Georgia | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs |
| Hawaii | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Idaho | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs |
| Illinois | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
| Indiana | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 10 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Iowa | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
| Kansas | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 5 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Kentucky | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
| Louisiana | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 10 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Maine | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Maryland | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 4 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Michigan | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Minnesota | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Mississippi | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Missouri | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
| Montana | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 8 yrs | 5 yrs |
| Nebraska | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs |
| Nevada | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| New Hampshire | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 4 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| New Jersey | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| New Mexico | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| New York | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| North Carolina | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 4 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| North Dakota | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Ohio | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 8 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Oklahoma | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Oregon | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs |
| Rhode Island | 10 yrs | 10 yrs | 4 yrs | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
| South Carolina | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| South Dakota | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Tennessee | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Texas | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs |
| Utah | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs |
| Vermont | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Virginia | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 5 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Washington | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 3 yrs |
| West Virginia | 10 yrs | 10 yrs | 4 yrs | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
| Wisconsin | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Wyoming | 8 yrs | 8 yrs | 4 yrs | 10 yrs | 8 yrs |
SOL periods are estimates based on the most common interpretation of state law. Consult a consumer-rights attorney for your specific situation. Last updated June 2026.
Does paying restart the statute of limitations?
Yes, in most states. A partial payment, a promise to pay, or a written acknowledgment of the debt can restart the SOL clock from zero. This is true in Florida, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and most other states. A handful (North Carolina, Wisconsin) require written acknowledgment specifically. Even a $1 payment on a decade-old debt can convert it back into a fully collectable, fully suable debt.
What happens when a debt is time-barred?
Collectors can still contact you and ask for payment. They cannot sue and win if you raise SOL as a defense. They also cannot threaten to sue — doing so is an FDCPA violation under § 807. The debt may continue to appear on your credit report for up to 7 years from first delinquency under the FCRA, but it cannot be legally enforced through the courts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt?
The statute of limitations on credit card debt varies by state from 3 years (Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina) to 10 years (Rhode Island, West Virginia). In Florida it is 5 years. In Texas it is 4 years. In California it is 4 years. Once expired, a collector cannot sue you and win in court — but the debt itself does not disappear.
Does paying restart the statute of limitations?
Yes in most states. A partial payment, a promise to pay, or a written acknowledgment of the debt can restart the SOL clock from zero in most jurisdictions, including Florida, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and most others. Some states (like North Carolina and Wisconsin) require a written acknowledgment specifically. Never pay anything on an old debt without first confirming SOL status.
What happens when a debt is time-barred?
Collectors can still ask for payment, but cannot win a lawsuit if you raise SOL as a defense. However, the debt is not extinguished — it can still appear on your credit report (for up to 7 years from first delinquency under the FCRA) and collectors can still attempt to negotiate. Threatening to sue on a time-barred debt is itself an FDCPA violation under § 807.
How do I prove a debt is time-barred?
The SOL runs from the date of first default — typically 30 days after your last on-time payment to the original creditor. Pull your credit report to find the date of first delinquency. That is the start date. Apply your state's SOL for the debt type. If the result is in the past, the debt is time-barred and you have an affirmative defense to any lawsuit.
Can a collector still report a time-barred debt to credit bureaus?
Yes, for up to 7 years from the date of first delinquency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681c). SOL on collection and credit reporting are separate timelines. A debt can be time-barred for lawsuit purposes but still legally appear on your credit report. After 7 years it must be removed regardless of payment status.
What is the SOL on medical debt?
Medical debt is generally treated as a written contract or open account, depending on state. Most states apply the same SOL as credit card debt — 3 to 6 years. Washington applies a shorter 3-year SOL to medical debt specifically. As of 2023, paid medical collections under $500 cannot appear on credit reports at all, and unpaid medical collections do not appear for the first year.
Can SOL be waived in a contract?
Generally no. Most states prohibit pre-dispute SOL waivers in consumer contracts as against public policy. However, signing a new payment agreement, settlement, or stipulated judgment after default can effectively reset or waive the SOL. Read any document a collector asks you to sign with extreme care — TutelaCredit Full includes contract review before you sign.
Does the SOL apply to federal student loans?
No. Federal student loans have no statute of limitations for collection. They can be collected indefinitely, including through wage garnishment, tax refund offset, and Social Security offset, without a court judgment. Private student loans, however, are subject to your state's SOL for written contracts (typically 3-10 years).
Related guides
TutelaCredit tracks your SOL deadline automatically and alerts you 180, 90, and 30 days before expiration — and warns you before any action that could restart the clock.