Statutes of Limitations
A state-by-state table
The statute of limitations on debt is the amount of time that a creditor has to file a lawsuit to collect a debt. The time period varies by state and by the type of debt.
In general, the statute of limitations for a debt begins to run from the time of the last payment or the time that the borrower defaulted on the debt. After the time period specified by the statute of limitations has passed, the creditor can no longer file a lawsuit to collect the debt..
However, this does not mean that the borrower is no longer responsible for paying the debt. The borrower may still be required to pay the debt even if the creditor is barred from filing a lawsuit to collect it.
It’s important to note that these are just general guidelines and the specific time period can depend on the circumstances of each case. If you have questions about the statute of limitations on a particular debt, it’s a good idea to consult with an attorney or a legal aid organization. This is Not Legal Advice.
Here are the general statute of limitations for various types of debt in some states:
| State | Oral Agreements | Written Contracts | Promissory Notes | Open-Ended Accounts |
| Alabama | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 3 years |
| Alaska | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Arizona | 3 years | 6 years | 6 years | 3 years |
| Arkansas | 3 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| California | 2 years | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| Colorado | 3 years | 6 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Connecticut | 3 years | 6 years | 6 years | 3 years |
| Delaware | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Florida | 4 years | 5 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| Georgia | 4 years | 6 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| Hawaii | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Idaho | 4 years | 5 years | 5 years | 4 years |
| Illinois | 5 years | 10 years | 10 years | 5 years |
| Indiana | 6 years | 10 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Iowa | 5 years | 10 years | 10 years | 5 years |
| Kansas | 3 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Kentucky | 5 years | 10 years | 10 years | 5 years |
| Louisiana | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | 3 years |
| Maine | 6 years | 6 years | 20 years | 6 years |
| Maryland | 3 years | 3 years | 12 years | 3 years |
| Massachusetts | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Michigan | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Minnesota | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Mississippi | 3 years | 6 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Missouri | 5 years | 10 years | 3 years | 5 years |
| Montana | 5 years | 8 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Nebraska | 4 years | 5 years | 5 years | 4 years |
| Nevada | 4 years | 6 years | 3 years | 4 years |
| New Hampshire | 3 years | 3 years | 6 years | 3 years |
| New Jersey | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| New Mexico | 4 years | 6 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| New York | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| North Carolina | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| North Dakota | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Ohio | 6 years | 8 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Oklahoma | 3 years | 5 years | 6 years | 5 years |
| Oregon | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Pennsylvania | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| Rhode Island | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| South Carolina | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| South Dakota | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Tennessee | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Texas | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| Utah | 4 years | 6 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| Vermont | 6 years | 6 years | 14 years | 6 years |
| Virginia | 3 years | 5 years | 6 years | 3 years |
| Washington | 3 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| West Virginia | 5 years | 10 years | 6 years | 5 years |
| Wisconsin | 6 years | 6 years | 10 years | 6 years |
| Wyoming | 8 years | 10 years | 10 years | 6 years |