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Consumer Debt · Statute of Limitations

Statute of Limitations on Debt in Oregon

How long a creditor or debt collector has to sue you over a debt in Oregon, by debt type. And, just as important, when that clock can restart.

Official statuteRead word-for-word
against ORS 12.080 · oregonlegislature.gov
Read from the official source · Jul 10, 2026How we verify →
Our researchOregon ranks #44 of 50 in our Debtor Protection Index, an original score read from the statutes.

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Debt statute of limitations · Oregon
6 years
is how long a creditor or collector generally has to sue over credit-card debt in Oregon. After that, the debt is usually "time-barred."
Credit-card debt6 years
Written contract6 years
Oral contract6 years
Open account6 years
Promissory note6 years
StatuteORS 12.080

The four limits at a glance

Years a lawsuit is allowed, by debt type. Credit card is the most-searched.

Credit card
6 years
Contract (ORS 12.080)
Written contract
6 years
Oral contract
6 years
Promissory note
6 years

Six years. Oregon does not split contracts into shorter and longer buckets the way many states do. ORS 12.080 sets one 6-year period for actions on a contract or liability, express or implied, and that covers credit-card debt along with most other consumer debt. There is no shorter open-account or oral-contract carve-out to worry about here.

When the clock starts, and what can restart it

The single most misunderstood part of debt limitations.

When the clock starts
The clock generally runs from the breach, which for consumer debt is usually your default or last payment. Oregon courts apply the breach date, not a discovery rule, for ordinary contract claims.
A payment can restart the clock

A voluntary payment of principal or interest restarts the 6-year clock from the date of that payment (ORS 12.240). Separately, a new promise or acknowledgment must be in writing and signed to take a barred debt out of the statute (ORS 12.230). Warning: even a small payment on an old debt can restart the entire period, so do not pay or sign anything for a debt you think may be time-barred without advice.

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 Oregon classifies each debt type.

Debt typeLimit in OregonHow it's classified
Credit card6 yearsContract (ORS 12.080)
Written contract6 years–
Oral contract6 years–
Open account6 years–
Promissory note6 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 Oregon debtors get wrong

Oregon keeps its debt clock simple. ORS 12.080 puts almost every kind of contract debt on a single 6-year period, so written contracts, oral contracts, open accounts, promissory notes, and credit cards all share the same deadline. That uniformity spares Oregonians the open-account-versus-written-contract trap that trips people up in states with split periods. Credit-card debt is 6 years here, full stop. The clock generally starts at breach, which for most consumer debt means your default or last payment. Be careful about reviving an old debt: a partial payment restarts the whole period under ORS 12.240, and a signed written acknowledgment can take a barred debt back out of the statute under ORS 12.230.

Common questions

What is the statute of limitations on credit-card debt in Oregon?

Six years. Oregon treats credit-card debt as a contract or liability under ORS 12.080, which carries a single 6-year limitations period. There is no shorter open-account category to worry about.

Is the deadline shorter for oral contracts or open accounts in Oregon?

No. Unlike many states, Oregon applies the same 6-year period from ORS 12.080 to written contracts, oral contracts, open accounts, and promissory notes. They all share one deadline.

Can a payment restart the debt clock in Oregon?

Yes. Under ORS 12.240, a payment of principal or interest starts the 6-year period again from the date of that payment. A small payment on an old debt can revive the entire period, so be cautious.

Does acknowledging a debt in writing revive it in Oregon?

It can. ORS 12.230 says no acknowledgment or new promise takes a case out of the statute unless it is in writing and signed by the person being charged. A signed written promise to pay can restart a barred debt.

Primary source
→ ORS 12.080; 12.230; 12.240
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Chapter 12 · oregonlegislature.gov
Cholilurrohman
Every figure on this page is checked line-by-line against the current statute. Editorial standards →

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.

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