Consumer Debt · Statute of Limitations
Statute of Limitations on Debt in Washington
How long a creditor or debt collector has to sue you over a debt in Washington, 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. Washington courts treat credit-card debt under RCW §4.16.040 (written contract, 6 years), not the 3-year oral statute. The "account receivable" definition in §4.16.040(2) independently captures card obligations at 6 years.
When the clock starts — and what can restart it
The single most misunderstood part of debt limitations.
Washington revival is statutory. A partial payment restarts the period, running fresh from the payment date (RCW §4.16.270). A new acknowledgment or promise must be signed by the debtor to count (RCW §4.16.280). Making a small payment on an old debt can reopen the full 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 Washington classifies each debt type.
| Debt type | Limit in Washington | How it's classified |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 6 years | Written contract / account receivable |
| Written contract | 6 years | — |
| Oral contract | 3 years | — |
| Open account | 6 years | An "account receivable" is captured at 6 years by §4.16.040(2); a purely oral open account can be 3 years under §4.16.080(3). |
| Promissory note | 6 years | Negotiable notes generally fall under the UCC (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 Washington debtors get wrong
Washington gives creditors a long 6-year window on written contracts and account receivables, which is where the courts place credit cards — not the shorter 3-year oral-contract statute. The revival rule here is unusually concrete because it is written into the code: under RCW §4.16.270, a voluntary partial payment restarts the clock from the payment date, and under §4.16.280 any acknowledgment has to be signed to count. That makes a "just pay $20 to make them stop calling" move genuinely risky on an old account.
Common questions
How long can I be sued for credit-card debt in Washington?
Six years. Washington courts apply the written-contract / account-receivable statute (RCW §4.16.040) to credit cards, not the 3-year oral-contract period.
What is the statute of limitations on an oral agreement in Washington?
Three years under RCW §4.16.080. Written contracts and account receivables get six years under §4.16.040.
Can a partial payment restart the debt clock in Washington?
Yes — and it's in the statute. Under RCW §4.16.270 a voluntary partial payment restarts the limitations period from the date of that payment, so a small payment can reopen the full 6-year window.
Does a statute of limitations erase my debt in Washington?
No. It gives you a defense to a lawsuit if you raise it, but the debt still exists, can still be reported for its own period, and can be revived by a payment or a signed written promise.
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.