Arizona debt statute of limitations is the answer to “statute of limitations on debt in Arizona”. This guide gives the Arizona 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 Arizona debt statute of limitations figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Arizona sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Arizona 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 Arizona debt statute of limitations Guide:
What the Arizona Debt Statute of Limitations Means
In Arizona, the statute of limitations sets how long a creditor or collector has to file a lawsuit to collect a debt. When the time runs out, the debt still exists, but in most cases a court can no longer order the consumer to pay it. The court does not check the time limit on its own. The consumer generally has to raise it as a defense in court.
The Arizona 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 | A.R.S. 12-548(A)(1), (A)(2), 12-543(1), (2), 47-3118(A)compilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
The Arizona debt statute of limitations figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Arizona 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. An Arizona 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 Arizona Debt Statute of Limitations Starts
In most cases the clock starts when the debt goes into default, meaning the first missed payment that was never made up. The Arizona Supreme Court held in Mertola v. Santos (2018) that a claim for an entire installment debt starts at the first uncured missed payment, even if the creditor never “accelerated” the loan.
To confirm the exact start date for a specific account, check the statute, the court clerk or an attorney.
Can the Arizona Debt Statute of Limitations Restart?
Under A.R.S. 12-508, once a debt is past the limit, a statement that the debt is valid can only revive it if it is in writing and signed by the consumer. A 2020 bill (SB 1306) would have let any payment restart the clock, but the current statute text does not include that language.
Even so, a small payment or a signed promise on an old debt can create legal questions, so it helps to confirm with the statute, the court clerk or an attorney before acting.
Old Debts and the Arizona Debt Statute of Limitations
A consumer contacted about an old debt may ask the collector in writing to validate it, within 30 days of the first notice, under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Checking the dates and the amount before admitting the debt or paying anything is generally a reasonable first step. Federal Regulation F (12 C.F.R.
1006.26) bars debt collectors from suing, or threatening to sue, on debt that is past the time limit.
The Arizona Debt Statute of Limitations and Your Credit Report
These are two separate clocks. The Arizona time limit controls how long a creditor has to sue. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act controls how long a negative account can stay on a credit report: generally 7 years from the original delinquency, plus 180 days. A debt can be too old to sue on and still show on a credit report, or the other way around.
A payment does not reset the 7-year reporting period.
If You Are Sued on a Debt Past the Arizona Statute of Limitations
An Arizona defendant generally must file a written Answer with the court by the deadline on the summons, and pay the filing fee unless it is waived or deferred. If no Answer is filed, the creditor can ask for a default judgment. The limitations defense is usually raised in the Answer. Going to every hearing lets the defendant present that defense.
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The Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center and the court clerk have answer forms.
Common Mistakes With Arizona 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.
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 Arizona debt statute of limitations in Arizona
You do not have to handle this alone or pay to get answers. The Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona debt statute of limitations Figures
Every figure in the table above comes from our 50-state data file, built by reading the Arizona 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.
Arizona voters passed Proposition 209, the Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act, in 2022. It caps interest on medical debt at 3% a year, raises the dollar amounts of a home, vehicle and bank account that collectors cannot take, and generally limits wage garnishment to 10% of disposable earnings. To confirm the current amounts, check A.R.S. Title 33 and Title 12 or ask the court clerk.
Next rung: the Arizona debt lawsuit page explains the answer deadline if a collector sues.
Arizona — the bottom line
- The Arizona 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 Arizona debt statute of limitations clock in some states — check the table before paying an old debt.
- If you are sued after the Arizona debt statute of limitations has run, you must raise it in your answer; the court will not raise it for you.
Arizona Debt Statute of Limitations FAQ
What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt in Arizona?
6 years for an open account such as a credit card.
What is the time limit on a written contract debt in Arizona?
6 years.
Official Arizona 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/
- Arizona statute / opinion: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/00548.htm
- Arizona Judicial Branch Legal Info Hub: “A Creditor Has Filed a Lawsuit Against Me” (Consumer Debt): https://www.azcourts.gov/legalinfohub/Legal-Info-Sheets/Consumer-Debt/A-Creditor-Has-Filed-a-Lawsuit-Against-Me
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB — Debt collection: know your rights: consumerfinance.gov
This Arizona debt statute of limitations guide was last verified against official Arizona 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.