How to Read This Table
Each state sets its own statute of limitations (SOL) for different categories of debt. The four columns that matter most are: written contracts (signed agreements including most loans), oral contracts (verbal agreements), promissory notes (formal IOUs), and open-ended accounts (revolving credit like credit cards). Some states treat credit cards as written contracts, others as open accounts -- see our credit card SOL guide for details.
The accrual rule column indicates whether the state generally uses the occurrence rule (clock starts at breach/default) or the discovery rule (clock starts when the breach was or should have been discovered). Some states use a hybrid approach depending on the debt type.
| State | Written Contracts | Oral Contracts | Promissory Notes | Open Accounts (Credit Cards) | Accrual Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Alaska | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| Arizona | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Discovery |
| Arkansas | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Occurrence |
| California | 4 yrs | 2 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | Occurrence |
| Colorado | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Connecticut | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Discovery |
| Delaware | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| Florida | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | Occurrence |
| Georgia | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | Occurrence |
| Hawaii | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Discovery |
| Idaho | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Occurrence |
| Illinois | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Discovery |
| Indiana | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Iowa | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Discovery |
| Kansas | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| Kentucky | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Discovery |
| Louisiana | 10 yrs | 10 yrs | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| Maine | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Maryland | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| Massachusetts | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Discovery |
| Michigan | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Minnesota | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Discovery |
| Mississippi | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| Missouri | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Occurrence |
| Montana | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Discovery |
| Nebraska | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | Occurrence |
| Nevada | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | Occurrence |
| New Hampshire | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | Discovery |
| New Jersey | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Discovery |
| New Mexico | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | Discovery |
| New York | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| North Carolina | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| North Dakota | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Discovery |
| Ohio | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Oklahoma | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| Oregon | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Pennsylvania | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | Occurrence |
| Rhode Island | 10 yrs | 10 yrs | 10 yrs | 10 yrs | Occurrence |
| South Carolina | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | Discovery |
| South Dakota | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Tennessee | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Texas | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | Discovery |
| Utah | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 4 yrs | Discovery |
| Vermont | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 5 yrs | 6 yrs | Discovery |
| Virginia | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| Washington | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
| West Virginia | 10 yrs | 5 yrs | 6 yrs | 5 yrs | Occurrence |
| Wisconsin | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Occurrence |
| Wyoming | 10 yrs | 8 yrs | 10 yrs | 8 yrs | Occurrence |
| D.C. | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | Occurrence |
States with the Shortest SOL (Consumer-Friendly)
These states give creditors the least time to sue, providing the strongest protection for consumers with older debts:
3 years across most categories: Delaware, Maryland (except promissory notes), Mississippi, North Carolina (except promissory notes), South Carolina, New Hampshire (except promissory notes), D.C.
California stands out with a 2-year SOL on oral contracts -- the shortest in the nation. Texas and Pennsylvania apply a uniform 4-year period across all debt types.
If you live in a short-SOL state and your debt is approaching the deadline, do not make any payment or written acknowledgment. In most states, either action restarts the clock. See our guide on what resets the statute of limitations.
States with the Longest SOL (Creditor-Friendly)
Consumers in these states face the longest windows where creditors can file suit:
Rhode Island: 10 years for all debt categories -- the longest uniform SOL in the nation. If you owe money in Rhode Island, creditors have a decade to sue.
Wyoming: 10 years for written contracts and promissory notes, 8 years for oral and open accounts.
West Virginia: 10 years for written contracts, with shorter periods for other categories.
Louisiana: 10 years for written and oral contracts, but only 3 years for open accounts -- a dramatic split that makes the debt classification critical.
In long-SOL states, bankruptcy may be a better option than waiting for the statute to expire, especially if you face active collection.
Discovery Rule vs. Occurrence Rule
The occurrence rule starts the SOL clock on the date the breach actually happens -- typically the date of your last payment or the date you defaulted. This is the majority rule and is more consumer-friendly because the clock runs regardless of what the creditor does.
The discovery rule delays the start of the clock until the creditor knew or should have known about the breach. In practice, for consumer debt, this rarely matters because creditors know immediately when a payment is missed. The discovery rule is more significant in fraud, malpractice, and latent-injury cases.
Hybrid states may apply the discovery rule only to certain claims (like fraud) while using the occurrence rule for standard breach-of-contract debt. Always check your state's specific rules for the type of debt in question.
Important Caveats
Credit card classification varies. Some states treat credit cards as written contracts, others as open accounts. This can change your SOL by years. See our credit card statute of limitations page for the breakdown.
Choice-of-law clauses. Many credit card agreements specify that Delaware or South Dakota law governs. Courts are split on whether these clauses override your state's SOL. Some courts apply the consumer's home state SOL regardless.
Tolling events. The SOL can be paused (tolled) if you leave the state, are incarcerated, are a minor, or file bankruptcy. See our tolling rules guide.
This table is for general reference. Statutes change, courts interpret categories differently, and your specific debt may not fit neatly into one column. Consult a consumer protection attorney in your state for advice on your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the shortest statute of limitations on debt?
Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina have some of the shortest SOL periods at 3 years for most debt types including written contracts and open-ended accounts. Mississippi has a 3-year SOL for open accounts. These short windows mean creditors must act quickly or lose the right to sue.
Which state has the longest statute of limitations on debt?
Rhode Island has one of the longest SOL periods at 10 years for most debt types. Kentucky, Louisiana (for certain contracts), and Ohio also have long limitation periods of 6-10 years for written contracts. Wyoming allows 10 years for written contracts.
What is the difference between discovery rule and occurrence rule for SOL?
Under the occurrence rule, the SOL clock starts when the breach or default actually happens -- regardless of whether you know about it. Under the discovery rule, the clock does not start until you knew or should have known about the breach. The discovery rule generally gives creditors more time to sue.
Does the SOL on credit card debt differ from other written contracts?
In many states, yes. Some states treat credit card debt as an open-ended account (often with a shorter SOL) rather than a written contract. For example, in Virginia the written contract SOL is 5 years but the open account SOL is 3 years. How your state classifies credit cards determines which SOL applies.
Which state's statute of limitations applies if I moved?
Generally the SOL of your state of residence at the time of default applies. However, some states have borrowing statutes that apply the shorter of your old state or new state's SOL. Credit card agreements may also include choice-of-law clauses selecting a specific state like Delaware or South Dakota.
Explore More Guides
Credit Card Statute of Limitations -- How states classify credit card debt and why it affects your SOL
Can They Still Sue You? -- What happens after the SOL expires and what resets the clock
SOL and Bankruptcy -- When bankruptcy is better than waiting for the statute to expire
Tolling Rules -- When the clock stops running on your debt
SOL Defense Letter Template -- Free template for asserting time-barred debt defense
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