Statute of Limitations on Debt in Missouri (2026): The 5-Year Rule
Last updated 07/30/2026 by
Andrew Latham
Edited by
Andrew Latham
Summary:
The statute of limitations on debt in Missouri is five years for credit card debt and open accounts, and ten years for written promissory notes, measured from your last payment. Whether a signed note exists sets the deadline.
- Credit cards and open accounts: Five years under RSMo 516.120.
- Written promissory notes: Ten years under RSMo 516.110.
- Clock from last payment: The countdown starts when you stop paying.
Missouri gives collectors a five-year window on most card debt, but a signed note can stretch it to ten.
The paperwork behind the debt is what decides which applies.
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What is the statute of limitations on debt in Missouri
Missouri gives creditors and collectors five years to sue on credit card debt and open accounts, set by RSMo 516.120, and ten years on a written promissory note under RSMo 516.110.
Most credit card debt falls under the five-year limit because there is usually no separate signed promissory note. Once five years pass from your last payment, 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.
Missouri statute of limitations by debt type
The limit that applies depends on whether the debt is backed by a signed promissory note.
| Debt type | Time limit | Missouri statute |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card / open account | 5 years | RSMo 516.120 |
| Oral agreement | 5 years | RSMo 516.120 |
| Written promissory note | 10 years | RSMo 516.110 |
| Written contract for money | 10 years | RSMo 516.110 |
How credit card debt is classified in Missouri
Credit card debt in Missouri usually carries the five-year limit because a standard card account is treated as an open account rather than a written promissory note.
Collectors sometimes argue the ten-year limit applies by calling the cardholder agreement a written contract, but the longer window generally requires a signed promissory note.
If your debt is backed by such a note, the ten-year limit under RSMo 516.110 can apply instead.
When the clock starts in Missouri
The clock starts on the date of your last payment or last account activity, not the day you opened the account.
If you made your final credit card payment in May 2022, the five-year window would generally close around May 2027.
Pro Tip: In Missouri, a partial payment, a payment plan, or a written acknowledgment can restart the five-year clock from zero.
Before you respond to a collector, pull your credit report and confirm the date of last payment. A single partial payment can hand the collector a fresh five-year window to sue.
Time-barred debt and your Missouri credit report
The five-year 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.
A Missouri credit card debt can be time-barred for suing after five years yet remain on your credit report for two more.
Key takeaways
- Missouri allows five years to sue on credit card debt and open accounts, under RSMo 516.120.
- Written promissory notes carry a longer ten-year limit under RSMo 516.110.
- The clock starts on your last payment or account activity.
- A payment, payment plan, or written acknowledgment can restart the five-year 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 Missouri?
Five years. Missouri treats credit card debt as an open account under RSMo 516.120, running from your last payment. It can reach ten years only if the debt is backed by a signed written promissory note.
Can a debt collector still contact me after five years in Missouri?
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 Missouri?
It can. A partial payment, payment plan, or written acknowledgment that the debt is yours generally restarts the five-year 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.
Related reading
- Statute of limitations on debt in Illinois: a ten-year written-contract limit and a five-year open-account limit.
- Statute of limitations on debt in Georgia: a six-year credit card limit set by case law.
- Statute of limitations on debt in Arizona: a six-year credit card limit under the Mertola ruling.
- Statute of limitations on debt in Missouri: a five-year card limit, ten years if backed by a written note.
- Statute of limitations on debt in Maryland: a three-year limit, twelve years for debts under seal.
Andrew is the Content Director for SuperMoney, a Certified Financial Planner®, and a Certified Personal Finance Counselor. He loves to geek out on financial data and translate it into actionable insights everyone can understand. His work is often cited by major publications and institutions, such as Forbes, U.S. News, Fox Business, SFGate, Realtor, Deloitte, and Business Insider.
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