Statute of limitations on debt by state

How long a creditor or debt collector has to sue you over credit card debt, written and oral contracts, and promissory notes.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Rules have exceptions; open your state for details and the law it comes from.

10Highest: Rhode Island

5Middle state: Missouri

3Lowest: Virginia

51states and DC covered: 51 cross-checked

Years to sue on credit card debt: map

3 (14)
4 (9)
5 (8)
6 (18)
8 – 10 (2)

All states ranked: years to sue on credit card debt

Full table

State	Credit cards / open accounts	Written contracts	Promissory notes
Alabama	3 years	6 years	6 years
Alaska	3 years	3 years	6 years
Arizona	6 years	6 years	6 years
Arkansas	5 years	5 years	5 years
California	4 years	4 years	6 years
Colorado	6 years	6 years	6 years
Connecticut	6 years	6 years	6 years
Delaware	3 years	3 years	6 years
District of Columbia	3 years	3 years	3 years
Florida	4 years	5 years	5 years
Georgia	4 years	6 years	6 years
Hawaii	6 years	6 years	6 years
Idaho	5 years	5 years	6 years
Illinois	5 years	10 years	10 years
Indiana	6 years	6 years	6 years
Iowa	5 or 10 (courts have not settled it)	10 years	10 years
Kansas	3 or 5 (courts have not settled it)	5 years	6 years
Kentucky	5 years	10 years	6 years
Louisiana	3 years	3 years	5 years
Maine	6 years	6 years	6 years
Maryland	3 years	3 years	6 years
Massachusetts	6 years	6 years	6 years
Michigan	6 years	6 years	6 years
Minnesota	6 years	6 years	6 years
Mississippi	3 years	3 years	6 years
Missouri	5 years	10 years	10 years
Montana	5 years	6 years	6 years
Nebraska	4 years	5 years	6 years
Nevada	4 years	6 years	6 years
New Hampshire	3 years	3 years	6 years
New Jersey	6 years	6 years	6 years
New Mexico	4 years	6 years	6 years
New York	3 years	3 years	3 years
North Carolina	3 years	3 years	6 years
North Dakota	6 years	6 years	6 years
Ohio	6 years	6 years	6 years
Oklahoma	3 years	5 years	6 years
Oregon	6 years	6 years	6 years
Pennsylvania	4 years	4 years	6 years
Rhode Island	10 years	10 years	6 years
South Carolina	3 years	3 years	6 years
South Dakota	6 years	6 years	6 years
Tennessee	6 years	6 years	6 years
Texas	4 years	4 years	6 years
Utah	4 or 6 (courts have not settled it)	6 years	6 years
Vermont	6 years	6 years	6 years
Virginia	3 years	5 years	6 years
Washington	6 years	6 years	6 years
West Virginia	5 years	10 years	5 years
Wisconsin	6 years	6 years	6 years
Wyoming	8 years	10 years	6 years

How we checked this

Periods come from a statute-cited 2026 law-firm chart and match two other 2026 consumer finance tables. Where courts have not settled how credit cards are classified, both periods are shown. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.

Cross-checked sources agree Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.