Consumer Debt · Statute of Limitations
Statute of Limitations on Debt in Wyoming
How long a creditor or debt collector has to sue you over a debt in Wyoming, 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.
Most likely 8 years. Wyoming has no separate credit-card rule, so a card balance is usually treated as an open account, which falls under §1-3-105(a)(ii)(A) (contract not in writing, 8 years). Be careful: a signed written cardholder agreement can push a debt into §1-3-105(a)(i), the written-contract category, which carries 10 years. Even the shorter Wyoming period is long compared with most states.
When the clock starts — and what can restart it
The single most misunderstood part of debt limitations.
Wyoming is a restart state. Under §1-3-119, once a payment is made on the debt, or a written acknowledgment or signed promise to pay is given, the limitations clock runs fresh from that date. A single partial payment can restart the full period, so do not pay or promise anything on an old debt before you understand the consequences.
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 Wyoming classifies each debt type.
| Debt type | Limit in Wyoming | How it's classified |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 8 years | Open account (contract not in writing) |
| Written contract | 10 years | — |
| Oral contract | 8 years | — |
| Open account | 8 years | Wyoming does not list open accounts separately. They fall under §1-3-105(a)(ii)(A) as a contract not in writing, so the 8-year period applies. |
| Promissory note | 10 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 Wyoming debtors get wrong
Wyoming gives creditors more time than most states. A written contract carries a 10-year statute of limitations under Wyo. Stat. §1-3-105(a)(i), and an oral contract or open account runs 8 years under §1-3-105(a)(ii). Both periods are unusually long, so a Wyoming debt can stay enforceable well after it would have expired elsewhere. Credit cards are the gray area: with no separate rule, a card balance is usually treated as an open account (8 years), but a signed cardholder agreement can move it into the 10-year written-contract category. The bigger trap is revival. Under §1-3-119, a single payment or a signed acknowledgment restarts the whole clock, which matters a great deal when the base period is already 8 or 10 years.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on credit-card debt in Wyoming?
Most likely 8 years. Wyoming has no dedicated credit-card rule, so a card balance is generally treated as an open account under Wyo. Stat. §1-3-105(a)(ii) (contract not in writing, 8 years). If a creditor can produce a signed written cardholder agreement, it may argue for the 10-year written-contract period under §1-3-105(a)(i).
Why is the Wyoming statute of limitations so long?
Wyoming simply sets long periods: 10 years for written contracts and 8 years for oral contracts and open accounts under §1-3-105. Many states use 3 to 6 years, so a Wyoming debt can remain enforceable much longer.
Can a partial payment restart the debt clock in Wyoming?
Yes. Wyo. Stat. §1-3-119 says the limitations period runs from the date of a payment, a written acknowledgment, or a signed promise to pay. A single partial payment can restart the entire 8 or 10-year period, so think carefully before paying or promising anything on an old debt.
When does the Wyoming debt clock start?
It starts when the cause of action accrues, generally when you default or make your last payment. Because of §1-3-119, any later payment or signed acknowledgment resets that start date and the full period begins again.
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.