Wisconsin debt: after six years, the debt itself ends
Wisconsin does something almost no other state does. After the six-year time limit runs out, the debt is not just unenforceable in court, it is extinguished. Its Consumer Act also covers original lenders, and it protects more of your pay than federal law does.
The check is free. If a dispute letter will help, 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.
Wisconsin at a glance
- Any contract debt
- 6 years (893.43)
- After six years
- The debt is extinguished (893.05)
- State collection law
- Wisconsin Consumer Act, covers creditors
- Wage garnishment
- At most 20%
- Below the poverty line
- Wages fully exempt
- Agency licenses
- Department of Financial Institutions
General information about Wisconsin law, with sources below. Not legal advice.
Six years, then the debt is gone
Six years for any contract, obligation or liability, written or oral, including credit cards and open accounts (Wis. Stat. 893.43).
When the time limit runs out, "the right is extinguished as well as the remedy" (Wis. Stat. 893.05): the debt itself ends, not just the right to sue. In most states an old debt still exists and can be revived; in Wisconsin, once the six years have run, there is nothing left to revive. Trying to collect a debt already extinguished by the time limit can itself violate the Wisconsin Consumer Act.
Wisconsin's borrowing statute (Wis. Stat. 893.07) can apply another state's shorter time limit if the debt arose there.
The Wisconsin Consumer Act covers the original lender
The Wisconsin Consumer Act (chapter 427) applies its debt collection rules to original creditors as well as collectors. Collection agencies must be licensed through the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI).
The federal dispute right applies on top: a written dispute inside the validation period makes the collector stop until it mails verification.
For Wisconsin 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, Colorado sets 6 years and Kentucky sets 5 years for similar debts.
Not sure a Wisconsin collector is genuine? Check our guide to fake debt collectors, then ask for validation in writing.
Wisconsin residents often hear from national agencies like LVNV Funding and Midland Credit Management; see our guides to each.
For the court side of a Wisconsin debt, from the summons to a possible judgment, see how to defend a debt collection lawsuit.
Wage garnishment in Wisconsin
Wage garnishment is capped at 20% of disposable earnings (Wis. Stat. 812.34), and a debtor whose household income is below the federal poverty line is fully exempt. If your household is below the poverty line, tell the court: the exemption has to be claimed.
To see how Wisconsin compares with other states, and the ways to stop or reduce a garnishment, read our guide to wage garnishment.
Questions people ask about debt in Wisconsin
What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt in Wisconsin?
Six years under Wis. Stat. 893.43, the same as other contract debts.
Does a debt really disappear after six years in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wis. Stat. 893.05 says that when the time limit expires, the right is extinguished as well as the remedy.
Can a collector still ask me to pay an extinguished debt?
Trying to collect a debt already extinguished by the time limit can violate the Wisconsin Consumer Act.
How much of my wages can be garnished in Wisconsin?
No more than 20% of disposable earnings, and none at all if your household income is below the federal poverty line.
Does Wisconsin law cover my original lender?
Yes. The Wisconsin Consumer Act applies its collection rules to original creditors as well as agencies.