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If you are being hounded by a debt collector for a debt that is years old, the first question you should have is, what is the statute of limitations for this type of debt in my state? A statute of limitations is a statute in a common law legal system that sets forth the maximum period of time, after the debtor becomes delinquent on the debt, that legal proceedings (law suits) based on those events may be initiated. Note that the collection agencies may still try to collect the debt; but a court will throw out a lawsuit.
The type of debt affects the statute of limitations, too. Credit cards are usually considered to be "Open Accounts". Auto loans and other installment-type agreements are considered "Written Contracts".
This chart indicates the number of years of the statute of limitations in each U.S. state, as of Jan 2007. After this date it may change, so consult your state's attorney general's office or a lawyer to confirm.
| State |
Oral Agreements |
Written Contracts
( including auto loans
and installment type loans) |
Promissory Notes |
Open Accounts
(includes credit cards) |
| Alabama |
6 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
| Alaska |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Arizona |
3 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
| Arkansas |
3 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
| California |
2 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Colorado |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Connecticut |
3 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Delaware |
3 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
| District of Columbia |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Florida |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
| Georgia |
4 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
| Hawaii |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Idaho |
4 |
5 |
10 |
4 |
| Illinois |
5 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
| Indiana |
6 |
10 |
10 |
6 |
| Iowa |
5 |
10 |
5 |
5 |
| Kansas |
3 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
| Kentucky |
5 |
15 |
15 |
5 |
| Louisiana |
10 |
10 |
10 |
3 |
| Maine |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Maryland |
3 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
| Massachusetts |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Michigan |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Minnesota |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Mississippi |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Missouri |
5 |
10 |
10 |
5 |
| Montana |
5 |
8 |
8 |
5 |
| Nebraska |
4 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
| Nevada |
4 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
| New Hampshire |
3 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
| New Jersey |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| New Mexico |
4 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
| New York |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| North Carolina |
3 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
| North Dakota |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Ohio |
6 |
15 |
15 |
? |
| Oklahoma |
3 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
| Oregon |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Pennsylvania |
4 |
6 |
4 |
6 |
| Rhode Island |
15 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
| South Carolina |
10 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
| South Dakota |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Tennessee |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Texas |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Utah |
4 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
| Vermont |
6 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
| Virginia |
3 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
| Virgin Islands |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Washington |
3 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
| West Virginia |
5 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
| Wisconsin |
6 |
6 |
10 |
6 |
| Wyoming |
8 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
Please note: this is for informational purposes only - we are not extending legal advice. If you need to contact a regulatory body to file a complaint, click here for a directory. More Info
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