Statute of Limitations on Debt by State: A Table From the Statutes, and the Traps That Restart the Clock

Last checked October 1, 2026

A statute of limitations sets how long a creditor or debt collector has to sue you over a debt. Once it runs out, the debt is "time-barred," and a collector covered by federal rules may not sue or threaten to sue to collect it. The debt itself does not disappear, and a single payment can revive it in some states. This page gives the limitation periods for 15 large states, read directly from each state's statute on October 1, 2026, explains how the clock starts and restarts, and covers what collectors may and may not do once it expires. For the full set of debt options, see the debt relief options hub.

Key takeaways

The CFPB says most states set limits "between three and six years" for debts, "but some may be longer."

Periods differ by type of debt: written contracts often get longer limits than oral contracts or open accounts.

A collector "must not bring or threaten to bring a legal action" on a time-barred debt, under 12 CFR 1006.26(b), but you must usually raise the defense yourself in court.

A partial payment or acknowledgment "may restart the time period" in some states, per the CFPB. New York's statute says it does not.

How long is the statute of limitations on debt in each state?

The table below quotes each state's own statute. We did not copy it from a secondary chart, because published 50-state charts often disagree with the current text. Which column a credit card falls into depends on your state's courts and your card agreement, except where the statute says so directly, as Arizona's does.

State	Written contract	Oral contract or open account	Statute
Arizona	6 years, debt founded on a written contract executed in Arizona or on a credit card	3 years, debt not evidenced by a written contract, and stated or open accounts	A.R.S. 12-548; 12-543
California	4 years	2 years for an oral contract; 4 years for a book account, an account stated based on a written account, or an open account whose items are in writing	Code Civ. Proc. 337(a), (b); 339(1)
Florida	5 years	4 years, including store accounts	Fla. Stat. 95.11(2)(b); 95.11(3)(j)
Georgia	6 years, simple written contracts	4 years, open accounts and implied promises	O.C.G.A. 9-3-24; 9-3-25
Illinois	10 years	5 years, unwritten contracts	735 ILCS 5/13-206; 5/13-205
Massachusetts	6 years, contract actions	6 years	M.G.L. c. 260, s. 2
Michigan	6 years, breach of contract	6 years	MCL 600.5807(9)
New Jersey	6 years, contractual claims	6 years, including accounts	N.J.S. 2A:14-1
New York	3 years for consumer credit transactions	3 years	CPLR 214-i
North Carolina	3 years, contracts express or implied	3 years	G.S. 1-52(1)
Ohio	6 years	4 years, contracts not in writing	R.C. 2305.06; 2305.07(A)
Pennsylvania	4 years, writings and notes	4 years, express contracts not in writing and contracts implied in law	42 Pa.C.S. 5525(a)(3), (4), (7), (8)
Texas	4 years, "debt"	4 years	Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.004(a)(3)
Virginia	5 years, written and signed	3 years, unwritten, or written but not signed	Va. Code 8.01-246(2), (4)
Washington	6 years	3 years, not in writing	RCW 4.16.040(1); 4.16.080(3)

Sources: each state's statute text from the official legislature site, or from Justia where noted in Sources, accessed October 1, 2026. Florida also sets 3 years for medical debt owed to a licensed facility, counted from referral to a third-party collector, under 95.11(4). Statutes change; check the current text and ask a lawyer how your state's courts classify your account.

Figure: written-contract periods from the state statutes in the table above, accessed October 1, 2026.

When does the clock start?

It depends on your state. The CFPB says that "in some states, the statute of limitations period begins once a required payment is missed. In other states, the period of time counts from when the most recent payment was made, even if that payment was made during collection." The CFPB adds that the period can also be affected by "terms in the contract with the creditor or if you moved to a state where the laws differ," and lists "state law named in your credit agreement" as a factor. Pull your card agreement and look for a choice-of-law clause before you assume your home state's period applies.

Some statutes set the start date themselves. Arizona's open-account rule says "no item of a stated or open account shall be barred so long as any item thereof has been incurred within three years immediately prior to the bringing of an action thereon."

What restarts the statute of limitations?

This is the trap that keeps old debt alive. The CFPB warns that "making a partial payment or acknowledging you owe an old debt, even after the statute of limitations expired, may restart the time period." Two statutes show how far apart the states are:

Illinois restarts on a written promise or payment. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-206, "if any payment or new promise to pay has been made, in writing," on a written contract or other written evidence of debt, "within or after the period of 10 years," the creditor may sue "at any time within 10 years after the time of such payment or promise to pay."
New York does not. CPLR 214-i says that once the period expires, "any subsequent payment toward, written or oral affirmation of or other activity on the debt does not revive or extend the limitations period."

Before you pay anything on an old debt. Find out whether the debt is time-barred and whether your state treats a payment or a written acknowledgment as a restart. A small "good faith" payment on a debt that was days from expiring can hand the collector a new multi-year window.

What can a collector do once a debt is time-barred?

Under Regulation F, 12 CFR 1006.26 defines a time-barred debt as "a debt for which the applicable statute of limitations has expired," and paragraph (b) says "a debt collector must not bring or threaten to bring a legal action against a consumer to collect a time-barred debt." The CFPB adds that suing or threatening to sue on time-barred debt violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and that you "may have a claim against the collector."

What collectors still may do is ask you to pay. The CFPB says that "in most states, debt collectors can still attempt to collect debts after the statute of limitations expires," by letter or phone, "as long as they do not violate the law when doing so." This is what people call zombie debt: old, unenforceable in court, but still being collected.

The protection only works if you use it. The CFPB says "a court may still award a judgment against you if you don't show up and raise the statute of limitations as a defense," and that "ordinarily, it's the responsibility of the person being sued to point out that the statute of limitations has expired." If you are served, follow the steps in what to do if you are sued by a debt collector.

Is the statute of limitations the same as the credit reporting period?

No. They are two separate clocks. The statute of limitations limits lawsuits. The credit reporting limit controls how long the item can appear on your report. The CFPB says "a credit reporting company generally can report most negative information for seven years," and bankruptcies "up to ten years." A debt can be time-barred and still on your report, or off your report and still within the lawsuit window. How a charged-off account is reported is covered in charge-offs explained, and why a collector's promise to delete an accurate item is never assured is covered in pay-for-delete letters.

	Statute of limitations	Credit reporting period
What it limits	Lawsuits to collect	Reporting of negative items
Where the limit comes from	Each state's law	Credit reporting rules that apply nationwide
Typical length	3 to 6 years in most states (CFPB)	Generally 7 years for most negative items (CFPB)

Should you pay a time-barred debt?

That is your choice, and there are reasons on both sides. If you decide to resolve it, settle on paper first. The CFPB's advice for any settlement is to "get the plan and the debt collector's promises in writing before you make a payment." Check first whether your state treats a payment as a restart, and make the agreement say the payment resolves the debt in full. Offer scripts are in negotiating a debt settlement yourself.

Who this is for

This page is for you if a collector is contacting you about a debt you have not paid on in years, if you have been sued over an old account, or if you are deciding whether to pay an old balance.

Common questions

What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt?

It depends on your state and on how its courts classify a credit card. In the 15 states above, written-contract periods run from 3 years (New York for consumer credit, North Carolina) to 10 years (Illinois), and oral-contract periods can be as short as 2 years (California). Arizona's statute names credit cards directly: 6 years.

Does a debt go away after the statute of limitations?

No. The CFPB says a debt "doesn't generally expire or disappear until its paid." The statute limits lawsuits, not the debt itself.

Does making a payment restart the statute of limitations?

In some states it can, per the CFPB. Illinois restarts the 10-year period on a written payment or promise to pay. New York's statute says a payment "does not revive or extend" an expired period.

Can a collector still call me about time-barred debt?

In most states, yes, as long as it follows debt collection law. It may not sue or threaten to sue, under 12 CFR 1006.26(b).

What if I'm sued on a time-barred debt?

Respond by the court's deadline and raise the statute of limitations as a defense. The CFPB says a court may still enter judgment if you don't show up.

Do federal student loans have a statute of limitations?

The CFPB says some debts, "such as federal student loans," don't have one.

Sources

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "Can debt collectors collect a debt that's several years old?" (last modified May 15, 2026), accessed October 1, 2026.
12 CFR 1006.26, Regulation F, via eCFR, accessed October 1, 2026.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "How long does information stay on my credit report?", accessed October 1, 2026.
Arizona Revised Statutes 12-548 and 12-543, Arizona State Legislature, accessed October 1, 2026.
California Code of Civil Procedure 337 and 339, California Legislative Information, accessed October 1, 2026.
Florida Statutes 95.11, The Florida Legislature, accessed October 1, 2026.
Official Code of Georgia 9-3-24 and 9-3-25, via Justia, accessed October 1, 2026.
735 ILCS 5/13-205 and 5/13-206, Illinois General Assembly, accessed October 1, 2026.
Massachusetts General Laws chapter 260, section 2, Massachusetts Legislature, accessed October 1, 2026.
Michigan Compiled Laws 600.5807, Michigan Legislature, accessed October 1, 2026.
New Jersey Revised Statutes 2A:14-1, via Justia, accessed October 1, 2026.
New York CPLR 214-i, New York State Senate, accessed October 1, 2026.
North Carolina General Statutes 1-52, North Carolina General Assembly, accessed October 1, 2026.
Ohio Revised Code 2305.06 and 2305.07, Ohio Laws, accessed October 1, 2026.
42 Pa.C.S. 5525, Pennsylvania General Assembly, accessed October 1, 2026.
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.004, Texas Legislature, accessed October 1, 2026.
Code of Virginia 8.01-246, Virginia General Assembly, accessed October 1, 2026.
Revised Code of Washington 4.16.040 and 4.16.080, Washington State Legislature, accessed October 1, 2026.

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This page is general information, not legal advice. Limitation periods, when they start, and what restarts them vary by state, by type of debt and by the law named in your agreement, and courts interpret them case by case. States not listed here have their own statutes. If a collector has sued or threatened to sue you, contact a consumer attorney or legal aid office. Loans Generator is not a law firm and does not offer legal services.