Statute of Limitations on Debt

Every state sets a time limit - typically 3 to 6 years - after which a creditor or collector can no longer successfully sue you over a debt. The debt still exists and can still be reported (within the 7-year reporting limit), but court enforcement expires.

Why it matters

Time-barred debt is where people get tricked: in many states, a partial payment or even a written acknowledgment can restart the clock. Know the rule before you touch an old account.

Key facts

• The limitations period varies by state and by debt type; written contracts usually get longer than oral or open-ended accounts.
• The reporting clock (7 years under FCRA) and the lawsuit clock (state law) are separate timelines with separate start dates.
• Collectors must not threaten to sue on time-barred debt; Regulation F makes that a violation.
• A judgment, if a creditor sues in time and wins, resets everything - judgments can often be renewed for decades.

In practice

1. B
2. e
3. f
4. o
5. r
6. e
8. p
9. a
10. y
11. i
12. n
13. g
15. o
16. r
18. e
19. v
20. e
21. n
23. c
24. o
25. n
26. t
27. a
28. c
29. t
30. i
31. n
32. g
34. a
36. c
37. o
38. l
39. l
40. e
41. c
42. t
43. o
44. r
46. a
47. b
48. o
49. u
50. t
52. a
53. n
55. o
56. l
57. d
59. d
60. e
61. b
62. t
63. ,
65. l
66. o
67. o
68. k
70. u
71. p
73. y
74. o
75. u
76. r
78. s
79. t
80. a
81. t
82. e
83. '
84. s
86. l
87. i
88. m
89. i
90. t
91. a
92. t
93. i
94. o
95. n
96. s
98. p
99. e
100. r
101. i
102. o
103. d
105. f
106. o
107. r
109. t
110. h
111. a
112. t
114. d
115. e
116. b
117. t
119. t
120. y
121. p
122. e
124. a
125. n
126. d
128. c
129. h
130. e
131. c
132. k
134. t
135. h
136. e
138. d
139. a
140. t
141. e
143. o
144. f
146. f
147. i
148. r
149. s
150. t
152. d
153. e
154. l
155. i
156. n
157. q
158. u
159. e
160. n
161. c
162. y
164. o
165. n
167. y
168. o
169. u
170. r
172. r
173. e
174. p
175. o
176. r
177. t
178. .