Ohio debt: shorter time limits since 2021, and what they mean for old accounts

Six years for a written contract (Ohio Revised Code 2305.06) and four years for a contract not in writing (2305.07(A)). Most consumer transactions, written or not, have six years (2305.07(C)).

Senate Bill 13, in force from June 2021, cut these periods from eight years (written) and six years (oral). For claims that arose before the change, the limit is whichever comes first: the new period counted from the effective date, or the end of the old period. So an account that went unpaid before 2021 may already be past the limit.

SB 13 also narrowed Ohio's borrowing statute, which imports another state's shorter time limit, so that it covers only tort actions. Federal law bars suits and threats of suits on time-barred debt.

After a judgment, a creditor can garnish the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage (Ohio Revised Code 2329.66).

That is the federal standard, with no extra Ohio protection for ordinary consumer debt. Garnishment needs a court judgment first, and you can ask for a hearing on the garnishment once it is filed.

For the federal floor beneath Ohio's rule, and what to do if your pay is already being garnished, see how much of your wages can be garnished.

After the 6-year limit runs out, a collector must not sue or threaten to; read what to do about an old debt before paying anything.

Limits vary a lot between states: by comparison, Tennessee sets 6 years and Arkansas sets 3 years for similar debts.

Not sure a Ohio collector is genuine? Check our guide to fake debt collectors, then ask for validation in writing.

Most debt lawsuits end in default because people do not respond; our page on what to do if a debt collector sues you explains how to avoid that in Ohio.

The Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act prohibits unfair and deceptive acts in consumer transactions, including debt collection by collectors and debt buyers, but not by original creditors collecting their own debts. Debt collectors do not need a state license in Ohio.

When the original lender collects its own account, the federal collection law generally does not apply either, so the main protections come into play once an account is sold or placed with a collector. Then the federal dispute right applies: a written dispute inside the validation period makes the collector stop until it mails verification.

National collectors active in Ohio include LVNV Funding and Midland Credit Management; our guides list their official dispute addresses.