A statute of limitations is the deadline a creditor has to sue you. In Arizona it’s 6 years for most written contracts and credit cards, and 3 years for oral debts and open accounts [1][2]. If a creditor wins in court, the judgment is a different story: it can be enforced for 10 years and renewed [3].
At a glance
- Written contract signed in Arizona
- 6 years [1]
- Credit card debt
- 6 years [1]
- Oral debt (no written contract)
- 3 years [2]
- Stated or open account
- 3 years [2]
- Court judgment
- 10 years, renewable [3]
- Credit report
- About 7 years from first delinquency, separately [4]
| Type of debt | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Written contract executed in Arizona | 6 years after the claim accrues | A.R.S. 12-548(A)(1) |
| Credit card | 6 years after the claim accrues | A.R.S. 12-548(A)(2) |
| Debt not evidenced by a written contract | 3 years | A.R.S. 12-543 |
| Stated or open account | 3 years | A.R.S. 12-543 |
| Enforcing a court judgment | 10 years from entry or renewal | A.R.S. 12-1551 |
Written contracts and credit cards: six years
Arizona law says an action for debt must be brought within six years after the cause of action accrues when the debt rests on either [1]:
- a written contract executed in Arizona, such as a signed loan agreement or promissory note, or
- a credit card, as Arizona’s criminal code defines the term.
The same law adds that if another state’s deadline conflicts with these six-year rules, Arizona’s rule controls [1]. That matters because many card issuers are based in other states.
The six years run from when the claim accrues. The statute doesn’t spell out that date, and it can depend on the account’s terms and payment history, so keep your own records of your last payment and when you fell behind.
Oral debts and open accounts: three years
A debt that isn’t backed by a written contract has a three-year deadline. So do stated or open accounts [2]. For an open account, an item stays collectable in court if it was incurred within the three years before the lawsuit [2].
Judgments last much longer
Once a creditor sues and wins, the clock changes. An Arizona judgment can be enforced for 10 years from the date it’s entered, and each renewal starts a new 10-year period [3]. Judgments entered on or before August 2, 2013 that weren’t renewed by August 2, 2018 can no longer be enforced [3].
What “time-barred” means
A debt is time-barred once the deadline to sue has passed. You may still owe it, and a collector can still contact you, but under federal rules the collector can’t sue or threaten to sue you over it [5].
If you’re sued anyway, don’t ignore the papers. The deadline is generally a defense you have to raise yourself [5]. Answer on time and say the debt is too old. If you don’t respond, the court can enter a judgment against you, and that judgment can then last 10 years or more [3].
The credit report clock is different
How long a debt can appear on your credit report is a separate federal rule. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, collection and charged-off accounts generally can’t be reported once they’re more than seven years old, with the seven years starting 180 days after the delinquency began [4]. Paying, settling or being sued doesn’t restart that date.
If an old account is still on your report after that, you can dispute it with the credit bureaus for free. Accurate, timely information can stay for the full period. For more on the reporting timeline, see BestAmerica’s guide to how long negative items stay on a credit report.
Where to get help
- Community Legal Services and other Arizona legal aid programs: can help eligible people answer a debt lawsuit.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov): takes complaints about debt collectors [5].
- A consumer attorney: worth a call if you’re sued on an old debt or a judgment you didn’t know about.
Sources
Next steps
BestArizona has a business relationship with these companies, and we may earn money if you use them. How we make money
Credit repair company
Credit Saint
If an old debt or another item on your credit report looks wrong, Credit Saint can help you challenge it with the credit bureaus.
You can also dispute errors yourself, for free, with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. No company can legally remove accurate, timely information, and results vary.
Learn about Credit Saint →Free financial app
Bolster
Bolster is a free app for keeping an eye on your credit and building credit history over time.
Check the app's terms for any optional paid features.
See Bolster →Common questions
How long can a creditor sue on credit card debt in Arizona?
6 years after the claim accrues. Arizona law puts credit card debt in the same 6-year group as written contracts signed in Arizona, and says the Arizona rule controls if another state's deadline conflicts.
What is the statute of limitations on an oral debt in Arizona?
3 years. The same 3-year limit applies to stated or open accounts.
Does the Arizona deadline change how long a debt stays on my credit report?
No. Under federal law, most collection and charged-off accounts come off a credit report about 7 years after the delinquency started, no matter what Arizona's deadline to sue is.