Collecting Old Debt &

the Statute of Limitations

 

 

Debt collectors often attempt to collect old and delinquent debt from consumers past the Statute of Limitations (SOL). These defaulted debts are often sold to debt collectors. Because these debts are based on contracts between the consumer and the original creditor, debt collectors may only succeed in lawsuits if the suits are brought within each state’s Statute of Limitations. Please see your state’s Statute of Limitations below.

 It It is extremely important that you do not pay toward a debt that is past the SOL. If you pay any amount toward a debt, even if it is past the Statute of Limitations, you may reaffirm the debt and the SOL may start over. When presented to courts as a defense, the Statute of Limitations prevents creditors from obtaining judgments for old debts. 

 

Debt collectors are governed by the Fair debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). A debt collector who is governed by the FDCPA may violate the act if a debt collector sues or threatens to sue on a debt which is not collectable because of the Statute of Limitations. Once a consumer retains a lawyer for representation against a debt lawsuit and a debt collector who is governed by the FDCPA knows it, the debt collector, or any of his or her fellow collectors may contact only the lawyer and not the consumer. The client-lawyer relationship usually ends the unwanted intrusions on a consumer’s life  and the continued attempts to collect debt that is not collectable.

 

To learn more about secondary creditors and what you can do to stop abusive debt collectors from collecting old and delinquent debt that is past the SOL, please refer to the FDCPA attorney directory (webpage coming soon) page to locate an attorney in your state.

Debts for which there are no Statute of Limitations

  1. Child support that is passed due (depends on state).

  2. Many types of fines

  3. Federal Student Loans

  4. Most Taxes

State Statute of Limitations For Old Debt

The figures below are based on written contracts.    

  • Alaska                   6 years
  • Alaska                   3 years
  • Arizona                 6 years
  • Arkansas              5 years
  • California              4 years
  • Colorado              6 years
  • Connecticut       6 years    
  • Delaware             3 years
  • Florida                  5 years
  • Georgia                6 years
  • Hawaii                  6 years
  • Idaho                    5 years
  • Illinois                 10 years
  • Indiana            *10 years
  • Iowa                   10 years
  • Kansas                  5 years
  • Kentucky            15 years
  • Louisiana            10 years
  • Maine                    6 years
  • Maryland              3 years
  • Massachusetts    6 years
  • Michigan               6 years
  • Minnesota            6 years
  • Mississippi            3 years  
  • Missouri              10 years
  • Montana              8  years

 
  • Nebraska            5 years
  • Nevada               6 years
  • New Hampshire 3 years
  • New Jersey        6 years
  • New Mexico       6 years
  • New York            6 years
  • North Carolina    3 years
  • North Dakota     6 years
  • Ohio                   15 years
  • Oklahoma           5 years
  • Oregon                6 years
  • Pennsylvania      4 years
  • Rhode Island    10 years
  • South Carolina   3 years
  • South Dakota     6 years
  • Tennessee          6 years
  • Texas                  4 years
  • Utah                     6 years
  • Vermont              6 years
  • Virginia                5 years
  • Washington        6 years
  • West Virginia    10 years
  • Wisconsin            6 years
  • Wyoming           10 years

 

  *  Six years reefers to a contract for payment of money

Please Note:  Before you decide to take or not take any action based on the information above, please consult a licensed attorney.  You may also consider contacting your state's Attorney General to learn more about old debt and your state's Statute of Limitations.  A listing of links that point to each state's attorney general is coming soon.