Consumer Debt · Statute of Limitations
Statute of Limitations on Debt in Iowa
How long a creditor or debt collector has to sue you over a debt in Iowa, by debt type — and, just as important, when that clock can restart.
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The four limits at a glance
Years a lawsuit is allowed, by debt type. Credit card is the most-searched.
Five years is the usual answer. Iowa courts treat a routine credit-card account as an unwritten or open account under §614.1(4), which carries a 5-year clock. In Gemini Capital Group v. New (Iowa Ct. App., 2011), the court held that without a signed written agreement from the cardholder the account is not a written contract, so the 5-year period applies. If a collector can produce a signed cardholder agreement, it could argue for the 10-year written-contract period under §614.1(5), so the longer clock is possible but has to be proven.
When the clock starts — and what can restart it
The single most misunderstood part of debt limitations.
Under Iowa Code §614.11, a barred contract debt is revived only by an admission in writing, signed by the person charged, that the debt is unpaid, or by a like new promise to pay it. A verbal admission does not count. On an open account, a payment can create a new last item and reset the accrual date under §614.5, so avoid making a payment or signing anything on an old debt until you know where the clock stands.
A statute of limitations does not erase the debt or wipe it from your credit report — it is a defense you must raise if you are sued after the period runs. In many states a partial payment or a signed written acknowledgment can restart the clock, so be careful before paying or signing anything on an old account. This page is legal information, not legal advice.
The full limits, with the statute
Every period and how Iowa classifies each debt type.
| Debt type | Limit in Iowa | How it's classified |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 5 years | Open / unwritten account |
| Written contract | 10 years (§614.1(5)) | — |
| Oral contract | 5 years (§614.1(4)) | — |
| Open account | 5 years (§614.1(4)) | — |
| Promissory note | 10 years (written) | A promissory note is a signed written contract, so it falls under the 10-year written-contract period in §614.1(5). |
Promissory-note periods often come from the UCC (§3-118, generally 6 years) rather than the general contract statute; confirm the instrument type for a specific note.
What Iowa debtors get wrong
Iowa splits its debt clock sharply by whether the deal was in writing. A written contract signed by the borrower carries a long 10-year limitations period under Iowa Code §614.1(5), while an oral or unwritten contract, and an open account, runs out in 5 years under §614.1(4). That gap is where most Iowa credit-card fights happen. Courts have generally treated a routine card account as an unwritten or open account on the 5-year clock, and in Gemini Capital Group v. New (2011) the Iowa Court of Appeals held that without a signed cardholder agreement the debt is not a written contract. A collector who can actually produce a signed agreement may push for the 10-year period, so the classification, not just the calendar, decides the case. One more Iowa trap: a signed written acknowledgment can revive a debt that had already run out.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on credit-card debt in Iowa?
Usually 5 years. Iowa courts generally treat a credit-card account as an unwritten or open account under §614.1(4), which has a 5-year clock. A collector could argue for the 10-year written-contract period, but only if it produces a signed cardholder agreement.
Why do some sources say Iowa debt is 10 years?
Ten years (§614.1(5)) is the period for written contracts, such as a signed loan or promissory note. Five years (§614.1(4)) covers oral and unwritten contracts and open accounts, which is where most credit-card debt lands unless a signed written agreement exists.
When does the Iowa debt clock start?
For most debts it starts when the debt became due, generally your first missed payment or default. For an open account like a credit card, Iowa Code §614.5 measures from the date of the last item on the account, which can be your last charge or payment.
Can a payment or a letter restart a barred debt in Iowa?
Yes, be careful. Under §614.11, a signed written admission that the debt is unpaid, or a new written promise to pay, can revive a debt that had already run out. On an open account, a payment can also reset the clock by creating a new last item under §614.5.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.