Washington debt: six years, a 20% wage cap, and licensed agencies only
Washington gives creditors six years to sue on most debts, counted from your last payment, and only a written promise can restart that clock. Its rules on collection agencies are among the strictest in the country: an unlicensed agency cannot even sue, and a judgment can take at most a fifth of your pay.
Free check first. If a dispute letter makes sense, it costs $29 ($19 for military, veterans, seniors and people with disabilities) with three follow-ups.
Who is asking you to pay?
Look at the company name at the top of the letter or in the caller ID.
Washington at a glance
- Written contracts, accounts
- 6 years (RCW 4.16.040)
- Oral contracts
- 3 years (RCW 4.16.080)
- Credit cards
- 6 years
- Restarting the clock
- Only a written acknowledgment
- Wage garnishment
- At most 20% for consumer debt
- Unlicensed agency
- Cannot sue (RCW 19.16.260)
- Judgments
- 10 years, renewable once
General information about Washington law, with sources below. Not legal advice.
Six years, counted from your last payment
Six years for a written contract or an open account, counted from the last payment (RCW 4.16.040), and three years for an oral contract (RCW 4.16.080). Washington appeals courts apply the six-year written-contract rule to credit card debt.
An acknowledgment or promise that restarts the time limit must be in writing (RCW 4.16.280). A phone call where you agree you owe the money does not restart it on its own.
Garnishment: no more than a fifth of your pay
For a consumer debt judgment, the greater of 80% of disposable earnings or 35 times the state minimum wage is protected, so at most 20% can be taken (RCW 6.27.150). For private student loan judgments the protection is higher: the greater of 85% of disposable earnings or 50 times the minimum wage.
Judgments are good for 10 years and can be renewed once for another 10, so a judgment can follow you for up to 20 years.
Already facing a garnishment in Washington? Our wage garnishment guide covers exemption claims, hardship and how long a garnishment lasts.
For Washington residents with old accounts, the 6-year limit is the key date; our zombie debt guide explains why.
Limits vary a lot between states: by comparison, Arkansas sets 3 years and Iowa sets 5 years for similar debts.
Our guide on how to dispute a debt with a collector applies in Washington, with a free sample letter.
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 Washington.
Licensed agencies, and what an unlicensed one cannot do
Collection agencies must hold a state license under the Collection Agency Act (RCW 19.16.110), and an unlicensed agency cannot sue on the claim (RCW 19.16.260). Breaking the Act's list of prohibited practices (RCW 19.16.250) is automatically a violation of Washington's Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86), which opens the door to damages and attorney's fees.
Before paying an agency, check its Washington license. The federal dispute right applies on top: a written dispute inside the validation period makes the collector stop until it mails verification.
If your letter comes from a national company such as Enterprise Recovery Systems or Harris & Harris, our collector guides explain who they are and how to dispute.
Questions people ask about debt in Washington
What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt in Washington?
Six years. Washington appeals courts apply the written-contract rule in RCW 4.16.040 to credit card debt.
Does a payment restart the clock in Washington?
An acknowledgment or promise must be in writing to restart it (RCW 4.16.280).
How much of my paycheck can be garnished in Washington?
For consumer debt, the greater of 80% of disposable earnings or 35 times the state minimum wage is protected, so at most 20% can be taken.
Can an unlicensed collection agency sue me in Washington?
No. RCW 19.16.260 bars an unlicensed agency from suing on the claim.
How long do judgments last in Washington?
Ten years, and they can be renewed once for another ten.