Every state enforces a **Statute of Limitations (SOL)** that sets a strict deadline after which a creditor or debt buyer loses the legal right to sue you in court to collect an unpaid balance. A debt whose statute of limitations has expired is legally termed **time-barred debt**.
1. State Statute of Limitations Variations
| State Tier | Time-Barred Limit | Representative States |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Year Limitation | 3 Years | California (open accounts), Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina |
| 4-Year Limitation | 4 Years | Texas, California (written contracts), Pennsylvania |
| 6-Year Limitation | 6 Years | New York, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Washington |
⚠️ The Reaffirmation Trap
Making a token payment (even $5) or signing a written acknowledgment of a time-barred debt can reset the statute of limitations clock to zero in many jurisdictions.