Every state limits how long a creditor has to sue you on a debt. Once that
window — the statute of limitations — passes, the debt is "time-barred." Enter your state and the date of
your last payment below for a quick estimate, then read the two things almost everyone gets wrong.
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Check if your debt may be time-barred
For ordinary consumer debt (credit card, medical, personal loan).
Enter your state and the date of your last payment or written acknowledgment. Nothing
you type leaves your browser.
Statute of limitations in
Time since your last payment/activity
Before you do anything, three things almost everyone gets wrong:
A payment can restart the clock. In most states, making a payment — even a small
one — or acknowledging the debt in writing can reset the statute of limitations to zero. Don't
pay or promise to pay an old debt until you understand whether you'd be reviving it.
Time-barred does not mean gone. A debt past the limit isn't erased: it can still
appear with collectors, a collector can still ask you to pay, and some still file lawsuits anyway. The
statute of limitations is a defense you have to raise — usually by filing a written Answer in
court. It is not automatic, and ignoring a lawsuit leads to a default judgment.
The period depends on the debt type. Many states use a different limit for written
contracts, open accounts (credit cards), and promissory notes. The number above is a general guide for
ordinary consumer debt — your exact facts can change it.
Illustrative estimate only — not legal advice. State law, the type of debt, and
events like a payment or a court ruling can all change the result. Confirm your situation with a legal aid
office or a qualified attorney before acting.
How the statute of limitations works
The statute of limitations (SOL) is a deadline on lawsuits, not on the debt itself. While the
clock is running, a creditor can sue and win a judgment — which can lead to wage garnishment or a bank
levy. After the clock runs out, the debt becomes time-barred: a creditor who sues can be made to drop the
case, but only if you show up and raise the statute of limitations as a defense. The
clock usually starts on the date of your last payment or activity on the account.
The two traps
A payment can restart the clock. In most states, making a payment, or even
acknowledging the debt in writing, resets the statute of limitations to zero. A collector chasing an old
debt may push for "just a small payment today" for exactly this reason. Don't pay or promise to pay
until you know whether you'd be reviving the debt.
Time-barred is not erased. An old debt can still sit on your account with
collectors and they can still ask you to pay. Some collectors even sue on time-barred debt, betting you
won't respond — and a missed response becomes a default judgment that's fully enforceable. If you're
sued, file a written Answer before the deadline and
raise the statute of limitations.
What to do with your result
Treat the estimate as a starting point, not a ruling. If the debt may be time-barred, your best move is
usually free: respond to any lawsuit and assert the defense, or talk to a legal aid office — not to pay,
which can restart the clock. If the debt is still within the window and you genuinely owe it, the honest
question is how to resolve it: a payment plan, a nonprofit debt management plan, settlement (which has
credit-score and possible tax consequences and is never guaranteed), or whether your income is protected
enough that you're effectively judgment-proof. The option
finder walks through that.
Still within the window and want the debt resolved?
If the debt is enforceable and you'd rather deal with it than risk a lawsuit, a structured program may be able to settle unsecured balances — review whether you qualify, free and with no obligation, on the provider's own site. (Settlement can affect your credit and may have tax consequences.)
Unsecured debt ≥ $7,500 · not available in CT/OR/VT/WV/WI