Consumer Debt · Statute of Limitations
Statute of Limitations on Debt in Massachusetts
How long a creditor or debt collector has to sue you over a debt in Massachusetts, by debt type — and, just as important, when that clock can restart.
The four limits at a glance
Years a lawsuit is allowed, by debt type. Credit card is the most-searched.
Six years. M.G.L. c.260 §2 applies a single 6-year period to all contract actions, "express or implied," so a credit card is 6 years no matter how it is classified.
When the clock starts — and what can restart it
The single most misunderstood part of debt limitations.
M.G.L. c.260 §14 ("part payment; effect") allows a partial payment of principal or interest, or a written acknowledgment, to restart the clock or remove the bar. Courts require a voluntary payment that actually cleared — a failed auto-withdrawal doesn't count.
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 Massachusetts classifies each debt type.
| Debt type | Limit in Massachusetts | How it's classified |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 6 years | Uniform contract period (classification moot) |
| Written contract | 6 years | — |
| Oral contract | 6 years | — |
| Open account | 6 years | — |
| Promissory note | 6 years | — |
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 Massachusetts debtors get wrong
Massachusetts uses one clean 6-year clock for all contract debt, "express or implied," so a credit card is 6 years however you slice it (c.260 §2). What makes Massachusetts notable is that its revival rule is written into the statute: c.260 §14 says a partial payment of principal or interest — or a written acknowledgment — restarts the clock or removes the bar. Courts do require a real, voluntary payment that actually cleared, so a bounced auto-withdrawal won't count, but a genuine payment on an old account will reopen the six years.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on credit-card debt in Massachusetts?
Six years. M.G.L. c.260 §2 sets a single 6-year period for all contract actions, express or implied, so credit-card debt is 6 years regardless of classification.
Does Massachusetts treat oral and written debts differently?
No. The 6-year contract period applies to both, so the distinction usually doesn't change the answer for debt.
Can a partial payment restart the debt clock in Massachusetts?
Yes — it's in the statute. Under c.260 §14, a voluntary partial payment of principal or interest, or a written acknowledgment, restarts the clock. A payment that never actually cleared does not count.
When does the Massachusetts debt clock start?
At the breach — generally your last payment or the point of default. The 6-year period runs from there.
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.