Debt collection laws & statute of limitations by state (2026)
How long a creditor can sue you, whether your wages can be garnished, and how long a judgment lasts all depend on your state. Pick your state below for a plain-English guide with the exact statutes.
Three things that change with your state
Federal law (the FDCPA) sets a floor for how collectors must behave, but the rules that decide most debt cases are set state by state:
Statute of limitations
The window a creditor has to sue you — from 3 years in states like Maryland and New York to 10 in a couple of others. After it passes, a time-barred debt is a complete defense if you raise it.
Wage garnishment
Most states cap garnishment at 25% of disposable pay, but Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina ban it for most consumer debt entirely.
Judgment lifespan
Once a creditor wins, how long they can enforce that judgment ranges from about 7 years to 20 — and most can be renewed. It is why responding before a default judgment matters.
Choose your state
Each guide covers the statute of limitations by debt type, wage-garnishment and exemption rules, that state's distinctive protections, how to respond if you are sued, and free legal-aid resources.
Arizona
Proposition 209 created some of the strongest medical-debt protections in the US.
California
4-year SoL; the Rosenthal Act extends FDCPA-style rules to original creditors, not just collectors.
Florida
5-year SoL on written contracts, a head-of-household wage exemption, and strong homestead protection.
Georgia
A 6-year written vs 4-year open-account split, and a very low $600 bank-levy floor.
Illinois
5-year SoL on credit-card and open accounts vs 10 years on written contracts.
Indiana
A 6-year SoL but a 20-year judgment, so defenses must be raised before judgment.
Maryland
A short 3-year SoL, and a payment cannot revive a time-barred consumer debt.
Massachusetts
Chapter 93A: treble damages and a mandatory 30-day demand letter.
Michigan
Two parallel statutes regulate debt collectors and original creditors alike.
New Jersey
Consumer Fraud Act treble damages plus the TCCWNA $100-per-violation penalty.
New York
3-year SoL under the 2022 Consumer Credit Fairness Act, with new NYC rules in 2026.
North Carolina
A short 3-year SoL plus no wage garnishment for most consumer debt.
Ohio
Senate Bill 13 cut the SoL from 8 to 6 years; OCSPA damages reach original creditors.
Pennsylvania
4-year SoL and no wage garnishment for most consumer debt.
Tennessee
A flat 6-year SoL and a $2.50-per-week-per-child garnishment reduction few people claim.
Texas
4-year SoL, a no-restart rule, and no wage garnishment for most consumer debt.
Virginia
A 5-year written vs 3-year open-account SoL, with a 20-year judgment.
Washington
WCAA per-se Consumer Protection Act violations plus recent medical-debt reforms.
More states on the way. We are expanding to all 50 states; the guides above cover the largest states by population first. In the meantime, our payoff strategies, settlement vs bankruptcy, and negotiation scripts guides apply in every state. This page is general information, not legal advice — confirm your state's current statute before acting.