Washington debt statute of limitations is the answer to “statute of limitations on debt in Washington”. This guide gives the Washington figures in a dated table, explains in plain words what they mean, walks through the steps, and points to the official forms and free help.
The Washington debt statute of limitations figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Washington sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Washington debt statute of limitations at a Glance
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral agreement | 3 years |
| Promissory note | 6 years |
| Open account / credit card | 6 years |
| Medical debt | no separate period — the ordinary contract periods above apply |
In This Washington debt statute of limitations Guide:
What the Washington Debt Statute of Limitations Means
In Washington, the time limit controls how long a creditor or collector has to win a lawsuit over a debt. It does not erase the debt, so in most cases a collector may still contact you after the time runs out. The court does not apply the limit on its own. The person being sued generally has to raise it as a defense in their answer.
The Washington debt statute of limitations Figures
| Rule | Bonus Bank Daily verified figure |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 yearscompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Oral agreement | 3 yearscompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Promissory note | 6 yearscompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Open account / credit card | 6 yearscompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Medical debt | no separate period — the ordinary contract periods above applycompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Statute | RCW 4.16.040(1), (2), 4.16.080(3), 62A.3-118(a)compilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
The Washington debt statute of limitations figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Washington sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Being sued over an old debt?
The time limit is a defense only if you raise it in your answer. A Washington debt defense attorney can check the dates, often at no cost for the first call. Every state bar runs a lawyer-referral service that sets up a low-cost first consultation; legal aid represents many people in debt cases at no cost.
When the Washington Debt Statute of Limitations Starts
In most cases the clock starts when the debt is breached, which usually means the default or the last payment made on the account. Washington’s 2019 amendment (Ch. 377, Laws of 2019) says that when a late payment is made, the period runs from the most recent payment. To confirm the start date on your own account, compare your records against the statute.
Can the Washington Debt Statute of Limitations Restart?
Under RCW 4.16.270 and 4.16.280, a payment, or a written and signed acknowledgment or promise to pay, made while the period is still running restarts the clock. Since July 28, 2019, a payment, acknowledgment or promise made after the period has expired does not restart, revive or extend it. This means timing matters. A small payment made before the period ends can give the collector a fresh window to sue.
Old Debts and the Washington Debt Statute of Limitations
You may ask the collector in writing to validate the debt. This means asking who owns it, how much is owed, and the date of the last payment or default. Many consumers check those dates against the statute before admitting the debt or paying anything. Federal rules (Regulation F, 12 CFR 1006.26) bar debt collectors from suing or threatening to sue on time-barred debt.
The Washington Attorney General has taken action against collectors that sent “settlement” letters without saying the debt was old.
The Washington Debt Statute of Limitations and Your Credit Report
These are two separate clocks. The state limit controls how long a creditor has to sue. Federal law (the Fair Credit Reporting Act) generally lets most negative debt information stay on a credit report for 7 years from the original delinquency. A debt can be too old to sue on and still appear on a report, or the reverse, and a payment does not reset the 7-year reporting period.
If You Are Sued on a Debt Past the Washington Statute of Limitations
The state generally requires a written answer to be served within the deadline printed on the summons. Missing it can lead to a default judgment even on an old debt. The limitations defense is usually raised in that answer, and the defendant then appears at every hearing. Washington LawHelp, the court clerk or an attorney can confirm the steps.
Common Mistakes With Washington debt statute of limitations
The most common mistake is missing a deadline: court and creditor deadlines run whether or not you have read the papers, and a missed one usually cannot be undone. The second is relying on an old article or a friend’s experience in another state — the rules on this page differ from state to state and change often, which is why every figure here is dated.
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The third is not keeping copies: every letter, form, receipt and bank statement may matter later, so keep them together and note the date you received each one.
Free Help With Washington debt statute of limitations in Washington
You do not have to handle this alone or pay to get answers. The Washington court self-help center explains the forms and the steps, and court clerks can tell you where and how to file, although they cannot give legal advice.
Legal aid organizations represent many people at no cost when income is limited, and the Washington bar’s lawyer referral service can connect you with a lawyer for a low-cost first consultation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints about lenders, banks and debt collectors nationwide.
How We Verify the Washington debt statute of limitations Figures
Every figure in the table above comes from our 50-state data file, built by reading the Washington statute or an official compilation of it, and each one carries the month we last checked it. Our writers do not change those figures; they explain them. When the law changes, the figure is updated and the date moves.
If something on this page no longer matches the statute, the statute controls — and we want to hear about it.
Since 2019, Washington law says payments or written promises made after the period has expired cannot revive a debt (HB 1730, Ch. 377, Laws of 2019). Separately, SB 5480, signed April 22, 2025 and effective July 27, 2025, bars medical debt from Washington residents’ credit reports.
The federal CFPB has since taken the position that federal law preempts state laws like this one, so check the law’s current status before relying on it.
Next rung: the Washington debt lawsuit page explains the answer deadline if a collector sues.
Washington — the bottom line
- The Washington debt statute of limitations limits lawsuits, not the debt itself; the year counts by type of debt are in the table above.
- A payment or a written promise can restart the Washington debt statute of limitations clock in some states — check the table before paying an old debt.
- If you are sued after the Washington debt statute of limitations has run, you must raise it in your answer; the court will not raise it for you.
Washington Debt Statute of Limitations FAQ
What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt in Washington?
6 years for an open account such as a credit card.
What is the time limit on a written contract debt in Washington?
6 years.
Official Washington Sources & Resources
- Statute and a 50-state chart with statute and court citations (Alper Law, Aug 2026) — limitation of actions on debts: https://www.alperlaw.com/asset-protection/statute-of-limitations-on-debt/
- Washington statute / opinion: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16
- Washington State Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection (“Dealing with debt and collectors”): https://atg.wa.gov/all-consuming-blog/cp-week-tip-day-dealing-debt-and-collectors
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB — Debt collection: know your rights: consumerfinance.gov
This Washington debt statute of limitations guide was last verified against official Washington sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current rule with the statute or a licensed attorney.
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Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Bonus Bank Daily is an independent educational resource — not a law firm, not a bank, not a debt collector and not a government agency. Judgment, levy, interest-rate and debt rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it.
Confirm the current rule with the statute, the court clerk or a licensed attorney in your state before you act.