Statutes of Limitations
Statutes of limitations are state laws that limit the amount of time in which legal action may be taken. If a claim is over the specific statute it doesn't necessarily preclude you from filing suit. However, the defendant may request that the charges be dismissed on this basis. Statutes of limitations only apply to lawsuits and do not prevent a third-party from attempting to collect the debt.
Statutes of Limitations by State
(in years)
State
|
Oral Agreements
|
Written Contracts
|
Promissory Notes
|
Open Accounts
|
Alabama
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
3
|
Alaska
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
Arizona
|
3
|
6
|
6
|
3
|
Arkansas
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
California
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
Colorado
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
Connecticut
|
3
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
Delaware
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
D.C.
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
Florida
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
Georgia
|
4
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
Hawaii
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
Idaho
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
Illinois
|
5
|
10
|
10
|
5
|
Indiana
|
6
|
10
|
10
|
6
|
Iowa
|
5
|
10
|
10
|
5
|
Kansas
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
Kentucky
|
5
|
15
|
15
|
5
|
Louisiana
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
3
|
Maine
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
Maryland
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
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
|
5
|
4
|
Nevada
|
4
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
New Hampshire
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
New Jersey
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
New Mexico
|
4
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
New York
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
North Carolina
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
North Dakota
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
Ohio
|
6
|
15
|
15
|
4
|
Oklahoma
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
Oregon
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
Pennsylvania
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
6
|
Rhode Island
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
South Carolina
|
3
|
3
|
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
|
Washington
|
3
|
6
|
6
|
3
|
West Virginia
|
5
|
10
|
10
|
5
|
Wisconsin
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
Wyoming
|
8
|
10
|
10
|
8
|
The information above is believed to be accurate at the
time of publication and is for reference only. No information herein should be construed as or relied upon as legal
advice. International Recovery Group is a collection agency. Collection agencies should be consulted for credit and collection recommendations only. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. If you find any discrepancies or errors here, please let us know by contacting: clientservices@irgus.com. |