The statute of limitations (SOL) on debt is the time period during which a creditor or collector can sue you for an unpaid debt. Once it expires, the debt becomes "time-barred," meaning they can still ask you to pay but can't take you to court. The timeline varies by state and by the type of debt.

General ranges by state: Most states have a 3 to 6 year statute of limitations on credit card and personal loan debt. Some go as long as 10 years. The clock typically starts from the date of your last payment or the date the account first became delinquent.

Common state examples:

3 years: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina. 4 years: California, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah. 5 years: Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana. 6 years: Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin. 10 years: Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Wyoming.

Important: type of debt matters. Many states have different SOLs for different types of debt. "Written contracts" (like a signed loan agreement) often have a longer SOL than "open-ended accounts" (like credit cards). A state might have a 4-year SOL on credit cards but a 6-year SOL on a personal loan with a signed agreement. Check your specific state's rules for the specific type of debt you have.

What resets the clock: In most states, making any payment on the debt restarts the statute of limitations from zero. In some states, merely acknowledging the debt in writing or verbally can restart it. This is called "reviving" the debt, and it's one of the most common traps people fall into. A collector calls about an old debt, you say "yeah, I know I owe that" or you send $25 as a "good faith" payment, and suddenly the full clock starts over.

Which state's law applies: This can be tricky. Some states apply the SOL of the state where the debt was incurred, others where you currently live, and some look at the SOL specified in the credit agreement. Recent court decisions have generally favored applying the shorter of the two relevant state SOLs, but it varies.

After the SOL expires: The debt doesn't disappear. Collectors can still call and ask for payment. They just can't sue. If they do sue, the expired SOL is an affirmative defense you must raise in your Answer. The court won't do it for you. Also, the credit reporting timeline (7 years from first delinquency) is separate from the SOL. A debt can be too old to sue on but still appear on your credit report, or vice versa.