Massachusetts debt statute of limitations is the answer to “statute of limitations on debt in Massachusetts”. This guide gives the Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts debt statute of limitations figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Massachusetts sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Massachusetts debt statute of limitations at a Glance
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral agreement | 6 years |
| Promissory note | 6 years |
| Open account / credit card | 6 years |
| Medical debt | no separate period — the ordinary contract periods above apply |
In This Massachusetts debt statute of limitations Guide:
What the Massachusetts Debt Statute of Limitations Means
The time limit sets how long a creditor or collector has to file a lawsuit over a debt in Massachusetts. When it runs out, the debt is not erased. The creditor can still ask for payment, but it generally cannot win a court judgment if the debtor raises the expired deadline.
In most cases the court does not apply the limit on its own, so the debtor must raise it as a defense.
The Massachusetts debt statute of limitations Figures
| Rule | Bonus Bank Daily verified figure |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 yearscompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Oral agreement | 6 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 | M.G.L. c.260, s.2; c.106, s.3-118(a)compilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
The Massachusetts debt statute of limitations figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Debt Statute of Limitations Starts
For a contract debt, the clock generally starts when the claim “accrues.” That is usually the date of default or breach, which for many accounts is the first missed payment after the last payment made. For a credit card or other revolving account, the plaintiff’s court filings must identify the default date and the last payment date.
Confirm the exact start date for your account with the court clerk or an attorney.
Can the Massachusetts Debt Statute of Limitations Restart?
Under M.G.L. c.260, s.13, a promise or acknowledgment restarts the clock on a contract debt only if it is in writing and signed by the person who owes the debt. The same section keeps the effect of a payment of principal or interest, so even a small payment on an old debt may restart the clock.
That is why a token payment can bring an old debt back within reach of a lawsuit.
Old Debts and the Massachusetts Debt Statute of Limitations
You may ask the collector in writing to validate the debt and to give the date of default and last payment before you admit to anything or pay.
Massachusetts rule 940 CMR 7.07(24) requires a collector seeking payment on a debt it knows or has reason to know is time-barred to tell you the debt may not be enforceable in court and that you are not required by law to pay. Federal Regulation F (12 CFR 1006.26(b)) bars debt collectors from suing, or threatening to sue, on time-barred debt.
The Massachusetts Debt Statute of Limitations and Your Credit Report
The state lawsuit limit and credit reporting are separate clocks. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, most negative accounts can stay on a credit report for 7 years, counted from about 180 days after the first delinquency. Making a payment generally does not reset that reporting period, even when it affects the lawsuit clock.
An old debt can drop off your report while it is still suable, or stay on your report after the lawsuit deadline has passed.
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If You Are Sued on a Debt Past the Massachusetts Statute of Limitations
In most cases the defendant files a written answer by the date on the summons and lists “statute of limitations” as an affirmative defense. If the defense is not raised, it may be waived. The defendant should also appear at every scheduled court date, because a missed hearing can lead to a default judgment. A judgment can be enforced for up to 20 years.
Confirm deadlines with the court clerk or a legal-aid office.
Common Mistakes With Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts debt statute of limitations in Massachusetts
You do not have to handle this alone or pay to get answers. The Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts debt statute of limitations Figures
Every figure in the table above comes from our 50-state data file, built by reading the Massachusetts 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.
Mass. R. Civ. P. 8.1, in effect since 2019 for consumer revolving-credit debts such as credit cards, requires the plaintiff to file a “Certification Regarding Statute of Limitations.” In it, the plaintiff states which law sets the deadline and certifies that the period has not run. Under Rule 55.1, a default judgment generally cannot be entered without the Rule 8.1 documents.
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s debt collection regulations (940 CMR 7.00) also require the time-barred-debt disclosure described above.
Next rung: the Massachusetts debt lawsuit page explains the answer deadline if a collector sues.
Massachusetts — the bottom line
- The Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts debt statute of limitations clock in some states — check the table before paying an old debt.
- If you are sued after the Massachusetts debt statute of limitations has run, you must raise it in your answer; the court will not raise it for you.
Massachusetts Debt Statute of Limitations FAQ
What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt in Massachusetts?
6 years for an open account such as a credit card.
What is the time limit on a written contract debt in Massachusetts?
6 years.
Official Massachusetts 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/
- Massachusetts statute / opinion: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2
- Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries – “Massachusetts law about debt collection” (mass.gov): https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-debt-collection
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB — Debt collection: know your rights: consumerfinance.gov
This Massachusetts debt statute of limitations guide was last verified against official Massachusetts sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current rule with the statute or a licensed attorney.
More Massachusetts Money Rights Guides
- Massachusetts Debt Collection Lawsuit
- Massachusetts Judgment Expiration
- Massachusetts Small Claims Limit
- Money Rights Guides for All 50 States
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.