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Time limits on debt in every state

How long a collector can sue over an open account or most credit cards in each state and DC, and whether a payment can restart that time limit. Checked October 5, 2026.

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StateTime limitCan a payment restart it?Source
Alabama3 yearsYes, in some casesAlabama debt collection laws (white paper)
Alaska3 yearsSee state guideAlaska debt collection laws (white paper)
Arizona6 yearsSee state guideState statutes of limitation for credit card debt (Arizona note on HB 2412)
Arkansas3 yearsYes, in some casesArkansas statute of limitations on debt: how long can you be sued?
California4 yearsYes, in some casesCalifornia Code of Civil Procedure section 337
Colorado6 yearsSee state guideColorado debt collection laws (white paper)
Connecticut6 yearsYes, in some casesConnecticut statute of limitations on debt (quoting C.G.S. 52-576)
Delaware3 yearsYes, in some casesDelaware credit card statute of limitations (quoting 10 Del. C. 8106 and 8107)
District of Columbia3 yearsNoProtecting Consumers from Unjust Debt Collection Practices Amendment Act of 2022 (enrolled)
Florida4 yearsSee state guideDebt collectors in Florida: your rights (2026)
Georgia4 yearsYes, in some casesGeorgia collection laws
Hawaii6 yearsSee state guideHRS chapter 657, limitation of actions
Idaho4 yearsYes, in some casesConsumer debt report card: Idaho (2024)
Illinois5 yearsYes, in some casesPortfolio Acquisitions, L.L.C. v. Feltman, No. 1-07-3004 (Ill. App. Ct. May 20, 2009)
Indiana6 yearsYes, in some casesIndiana debt collection laws (white paper)
Iowa5 yearsSee state guideDebt collectors in Iowa: SOL and your rights
Kansas3 yearsSee state guideDebt collectors in Kansas: SOL and your rights
Kentucky5 yearsSee state guideDebt collectors in Kentucky: your rights (2026)
Louisiana3 yearsYes, in some casesLouisiana debt collection laws (white paper)
Maine6 yearsNo32 M.R.S. 11013, prohibited practices (Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)
Maryland3 yearsNoStatute of limitations on debt in Maryland
Massachusetts6 yearsSee state guideMassachusetts law about debt collection
Michigan6 yearsYes, in some casesWhat is the statute of limitations on credit card debt collection?
Minnesota6 yearsNoConsumer debt report card: Minnesota (2024)
Mississippi3 yearsYes, in some casesMS statutes of limitations on civil matters (quoting Miss. Code 15-1-29)
Missouri5 yearsYes, in some casesStatute of limitations for collection cases in Missouri
Montana5 yearsYes, in some casesMontana statute of limitations on debt (quoting MCA 27-2-202)
Nebraska4 yearsYes, in some casesDebt collectors in Nebraska: SOL and rights
Nevada4 yearsYes, in some casesStatute of limitations on debt in Nevada
New Hampshire3 yearsSee state guideNew Hampshire debt collection laws (white paper)
New Jersey6 yearsYes, in some casesDebt collectors in New Jersey: your rights (2026)
New Mexico4 yearsSee state guideNew Mexico debt collection laws (white paper)
New York3 yearsNoIndustry letter: 23 NYCRR Part 1 and the Consumer Credit Fairness Act (Apr. 7, 2022)
North Carolina3 yearsYes, in some casesNorth Carolina debt collection laws (white paper)
North Dakota6 yearsYes, in some casesNorth Dakota debt collection laws (Rodenburg Law Firm summary)
Ohio6 yearsSee state guideOhio shortens statute of limitations for claims based on contracts
Oklahoma3 yearsSee state guideDebt collectors in Oklahoma: your rights (2026)
Oregon6 yearsSee state guideCommercial debt collection in Oregon
Pennsylvania4 yearsYes, in some casesPennsylvania collection laws
Rhode Island10 yearsYes, in some casesRhode Island statute of limitations on debt collection explained
South Carolina3 yearsYes, in some casesConsumer debt report card: South Carolina (2024)
South Dakota6 yearsSee state guideSouth Dakota debt collection law (white paper)
Tennessee6 yearsYes, in some casesTennessee debt collection law (white paper)
Texas4 yearsNoHow long do you have to sue in Texas? Statutes of limitations for debt and contract claims
Utah4 yearsSee state guideUtah debt collection laws (white paper)
Vermont6 yearsSee state guideVermont debt collection law (white paper)
Virginia3 yearsYes, in some casesDebt collectors in Virginia: your rights (2026)
Washington6 yearsYes, in some casesWashington debt collection laws (white paper)
West Virginia5 yearsSee state guideDebt collectors in West Virginia: your rights
Wisconsin6 yearsNoWisconsin statute of limitations on debt collection (quoting Wis. Stat. 893.05 and 893.43)
Wyoming8 yearsYes, in some casesDebt collectors in Wyoming: SOL and your rights

How to read this table

  • After the time limit, a collector can still ask for payment, but it must not sue or threaten to sue. The debt can stay on a credit report for up to seven years from the original missed payment, which is a separate rule.
  • The limit usually runs from the last payment or the date the account went into default. Written contracts, promissory notes and some medical bills can have different limits; each state guide gives the detail.
  • "Yes, in some cases" means a payment or a written acknowledgment can restart the limit under that state's law. Check the state guide before paying anything on an old debt.
  • This is general information, not legal advice. Anyone who has been sued should follow the deadline on the court papers and contact legal aid.

Source: Challenge That Debt, challengethatdebt.com/free-resources/state-time-limits/ (checked October 5, 2026). Free to print and share.