Statute of Limitations on Debt, by State
How long a creditor or collector has to take you to court over a debt depends on your state and on how the debt was documented. Written-contract periods in the states below run from 3 to 10 years.
Every number on these pages was read from the state’s own code, and each page names the exact section it came from.
Why this list is shorter than the usual fifty-state table
Most “statute of limitations by state” tables online copy each other, and the errors copy with them. We publish a state only once someone has opened that state’s own statute, read the operative subsection, and recorded it with a citation you can check. States still being verified are deliberately absent rather than filled in with a plausible-looking number, because on this topic a wrong figure can lead someone to ignore a lawsuit or to revive a debt that had already expired.
Verified states (12)
| State | Written | Oral | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | 6 yrs |
| California | 4 yrs | 2 yrs | 4 yrs |
| Florida | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs |
| Illinois | 10 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Minnesota | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Missouri | 10 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs |
| New York | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 3 yrs |
| North Carolina | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Ohio | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs |
| Virginia | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Washington | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | 6 yrs |
The distinction that matters most
The statute of limitations is a limit on filing a lawsuit. It is set by state law. Credit reporting is a separate matter governed by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681c, which generally allows most negative accounts to be reported for up to seven years from the original delinquency. The two clocks differ in length and start from different events, so a debt can be time-barred and still appear on a credit report — and can remain reportable after the lawsuit window has closed.
In many states a payment or a written acknowledgement can restart the limitation period. That is why making a small payment on a very old account can be a costly move, and why each state page below spells out its own revival rule.
Important. These pages summarise publicly available statutory law for general information. They are not legal advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Limitation periods are amended by legislatures and interpreted by courts, and which state’s law applies to a particular account can itself be contested. Crowned Credit is a credit-repair organisation, not a law firm. For advice about a specific debt or lawsuit, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Ready to Improve Your Credit Score?
Take the first step towards financial freedom today. Schedule your free consultation with our credit repair experts.