Statute of Limitations on Debt in Arkansas (2026): 3 or 5 Years Explained

Last updated 07/31/2026 by

Andrew Latham

Edited by

Andrew Latham

Summary:

The statute of limitations on debt in Arkansas is three years for credit card debt as an open account, and five years for written contracts, measured from your last payment. Whether a signed agreement exists sets the deadline.

Open accounts and credit cards: Three years under Ark. Code 16-56-105.
Written contracts: Five years under Ark. Code 16-56-111.
Clock from last payment: The countdown starts when you stop paying.

Arkansas treats a revolving credit card account differently from a standard loan, which usually puts card debt in the shorter window.

A signed written agreement can extend it by two years.

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What is the statute of limitations on debt in Arkansas

Arkansas gives creditors and collectors three years to sue on an open account, set by Arkansas Code 16-56-105, and five years on a written contract under 16-56-111.

Credit card debt often falls under the three-year open-account limit because balances revolve, but it can reach five years if pursued as a written contract. Once the applicable window closes, the debt is time-barred and a collector cannot win a lawsuit to force payment.

The debt still exists after the limit passes. You continue to owe it, but the legal power to sue over it is gone.

Arkansas statute of limitations by debt type

The limit that applies depends on whether the debt is a signed written contract or an open account.

Debt type	Time limit	Arkansas statute
Open account / credit card	3 years	Ark. Code 16-56-105
Oral agreement	3 years	Ark. Code 16-56-105
Written contract	5 years	Ark. Code 16-56-111
Promissory note	5 years	Ark. Code 16-56-111

How credit card debt is classified in Arkansas

Credit card debt in Arkansas often falls under the three-year open-account limit because you continuously borrow and repay on a revolving balance.

Collectors sometimes argue the balance is a written contract, which would carry the five-year limit, especially once an account is closed for non-payment.

Because debt buyers who acquire old accounts frequently lack the original signed agreement, the three-year open-account limit is a common outcome.

When the clock starts in Arkansas

The clock starts on the date of your last payment or breach, not the day you opened the account.

If you made your final credit card payment in June 2023, a three-year window would generally close around June 2026.

Pro Tip: In Arkansas, making a payment or acknowledging an old debt in writing can restart the clock from zero.

With a window as short as three years, confirm your date of last payment before you respond to a collector, because a single payment can undo years of aging.

Time-barred debt and your Arkansas credit report

The lawsuit limit is separate from credit reporting. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, most negative debts stay on your report for seven years from the first delinquency.

An Arkansas credit card debt can be time-barred for suing after three years yet remain on your credit report for four more.

Key takeaways

Arkansas allows three years to sue on open accounts and credit cards, and five years on written contracts, under Arkansas Code 16-56-105 and 16-56-111.
Credit card debt often falls under the three-year limit but can reach five if treated as a written contract.
The clock starts on your last payment or breach.
A payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock from zero.
Time-barred debt can still appear on your credit report for up to seven years.

Frequently asked questions

What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt in Arkansas?

Often three years, under the open-account limit in Arkansas Code 16-56-105, running from your last payment. It can reach five years if the debt is pursued as a written contract under 16-56-111.

Can a debt collector still contact me after three years in Arkansas?

Yes. The statute of limitations only bars lawsuits, not contact. A collector can still ask you to pay, but under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act they cannot sue or threaten to sue over a time-barred debt.

Does making a payment restart the clock in Arkansas?

It can. A payment or a written acknowledgment that the debt is yours generally restarts the period, so confirm whether the debt is already time-barred before you pay anything.

If old balances are piling up, comparing structured debt relief options can consolidate several collector accounts into one negotiated plan.