Credit and debt laws by state
State law sets the statute of limitations, the window a creditor has to sue you over a debt. Federal law decides how long it stays on your credit report, and that part is the same everywhere. Pick your state for its time limits, its medical debt rules and where to complain.
| State | Credit card debt | Written contracts | Medical debt law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3 yr | 6 yr | No |
| Alaska | · | 3 yr | No |
| Arizona | 6 yr | 6 yr | No |
| Arkansas | · | 5 yr | No |
| California | · | 4 yr | Yes |
| Colorado | · | · | Yes |
| Connecticut | · | 6 yr | Yes |
| Delaware | · | 3 yr | Yes |
| District of Columbia | · | 3 yr | Yes |
| Florida | · | 5 yr | Yes |
| Georgia | 4 yr | 6 yr | No |
| Hawaii | · | 6 yr | No |
| Idaho | · | 5 yr | Yes |
| Illinois | · | 10 yr | Yes |
| Indiana | · | 6 yr | No |
| Iowa | · | 10 yr | No |
| Kansas | · | 5 yr | No |
| Kentucky | · | 10 yr | No |
| Louisiana | 3 yr | 10 yr | No |
| Maine | · | 6 yr | Yes |
| Maryland | · | 3 yr | Yes |
| Massachusetts | 6 yr | 6 yr | No |
| Michigan | · | 6 yr | No |
| Minnesota | 6 yr | 6 yr | Yes |
| Mississippi | 3 yr | 3 yr | No |
| Missouri | · | 10 yr | No |
| Montana | · | 6 yr | No |
| Nebraska | · | 5 yr | No |
| Nevada | · | 6 yr | No |
| New Hampshire | · | 3 yr | No |
| New Jersey | · | 6 yr | Yes |
| New Mexico | · | 6 yr | No |
| New York | 3 yr | 6 yr | Yes |
| North Carolina | · | 3 yr | No |
| North Dakota | 6 yr | 6 yr | No |
| Ohio | · | 6 yr | No |
| Oklahoma | · | 5 yr | No |
| Oregon | 6 yr | 6 yr | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | · | 4 yr | No |
| Rhode Island | · | 10 yr | Yes |
| South Carolina | 3 yr | 3 yr | No |
| South Dakota | · | 6 yr | No |
| Tennessee | · | 6 yr | No |
| Texas | 4 yr | 4 yr | Yes |
| Utah | 4 yr | 6 yr | No |
| Vermont | · | 6 yr | Yes |
| Virginia | · | 5 yr | Yes |
| Washington | · | 6 yr | Yes |
| West Virginia | · | 10 yr | No |
| Wisconsin | · | 6 yr | No |
| Wyoming | · | 10 yr | No |
Time limits are for lawsuits. A dot means the state has no settled rule we could verify for that kind of debt; the state page explains. Open the state page for the law behind each number.