| State | Time limit to sue on card debt | Deadline to answer a lawsuit |
|---|---|---|
| California | 4 years for credit card debt (written contracts and open accounts) | 30 days after you're served |
| Texas | 4 years | Justice court: 14 days after service |
| Florida | Generally 5 years when the creditor can produce the written card agreement, or 4 years if the debt is treated as an open account | 20 days in county and circuit court |
| New York | 3 years for consumer credit debts like credit cards | 20 days if the papers were handed to you personally, or 30 days after proof of service is filed if served another way |
| Pennsylvania | 4 years for contract debts, including credit cards | 20 days in the Court of Common Pleas |
| Illinois | Courts usually apply a 5-year limit to credit card debt (the 10-year written-contract limit applies only when the creditor can prove every term in writing) | Usually 30 days after service in circuit court |
| Ohio | 6 years for consumer transaction debts like credit cards | 28 days after service |
| Georgia | 6 years for written contracts and 4 years for open accounts | 30 days after service |
| North Carolina | 3 years for contract debts, including credit cards | 30 days in district and superior court |
| Michigan | 6 years for contract debts | 21 days if you were served in person, or 28 days if served by mail or outside Michigan |
More states are on the way. If yours isn't listed, the CFPB, your state attorney general and LawHelp.org can point you to your state's rules.
Summaries reviewed November 2026. Laws change; always confirm with the official source or a local attorney.