Consumer Debt · Statute of Limitations
Statute of Limitations on Debt in Ohio
How long a creditor or debt collector has to sue you over a debt in Ohio, by debt type. And, just as important, when that clock can restart.
Prefer a calculator? Enter your last payment date in the Ohio debt statute-of-limitations calculator →
The four limits at a glance
Years a lawsuit is allowed, by debt type. Credit card is the most-searched.
Six years. SB 13 added a consumer-transaction clause to §2305.07(C): an action on a consumer transaction "including an account stated, whether or not reduced to writing" is 6 years, which sidesteps the written/oral split. The claim on such an account accrues 30 days after the last charge or payment. Older sources citing 8 years are pre-SB 13 and wrong.
When the clock starts, and what can restart it
The single most misunderstood part of debt limitations.
A voluntary partial payment can restart the clock under §2305.08, and a written acknowledgment or new promise revives the debt. For credit-card accounts, Taylor v. First Resolution Investment Corp. limits this (accrual is fixed at the first missed payment), so this is treated as corroborated. A payment on an old account can still reopen the 6-year window.
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 Ohio classifies each debt type.
| Debt type | Limit in Ohio | How it's classified |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 6 years | Account stated / consumer transaction |
| Written contract | 6 years | SB 13 (2021) shortened written contracts from 8 years to 6. |
| Oral contract | 4 years | SB 13 (2021) shortened oral contracts from 6 years to 4. |
| Open account | 6 years | – |
| Promissory note | 6 years | A negotiable instrument runs 6 years under R.C. §1303.16. |
SB 13 (2021) (effective 2021-06-16): SB 13 shortened written contracts from 8 to 6 years (§2305.06) and oral contracts from 6 to 4 (§2305.07), added a 6-year consumer-transaction/account-stated clause to §2305.07(C), and added a borrowing-statute subsection to §2305.03.
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 Ohio debtors get wrong
Ohio's numbers changed in 2021, and a lot of older guidance is now wrong. SB 13 shortened written contracts from 8 years to 6 and oral contracts from 6 to 4, effective June 16, 2021. It also added a consumer-transaction clause to §2305.07(C) that treats credit-card debt as an "account stated, whether or not reduced to writing" and puts it at 6 years, avoiding the written-versus-oral fight. If a source tells you Ohio is 8 years, it predates SB 13.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on credit-card debt in Ohio?
Six years. SB 13 (2021) treats a consumer transaction, including an account stated, as a 6-year claim under §2305.07(C).
Is the Ohio written-contract limit still 8 years?
No. SB 13 shortened it to 6 years effective June 16, 2021 (§2305.06), and cut oral contracts to 4 years. Sources citing 8 years are out of date.
Can a payment restart an old debt in Ohio?
Yes. A voluntary partial payment can restart the clock, and a written acknowledgment or new promise revives the debt, so avoid paying on an account you believe is time-barred.
When does the Ohio debt clock start?
At default, generally your last payment on the account. SB 13 clarified when the clock accrues for consumer transactions.
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.