Key facts
| Measure | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| credit report civil judgment note[1] | A credit reporting time limit is separate from a state debt statute of limitations; civil judgments generally drop off a report after more than seven years from entry or when the governing statute of limitations expires, whichever is longer. | 2026 |
| debt collector false representation note[2] | Regulation F bars a debt collector from bringing or threatening to bring a lawsuit to collect a time-barred debt, meaning a debt whose statute of limitations has expired. | 2023 |
| time barred debt note[3] | A debt does not generally expire until it is paid, but many states set a statute of limitations on how long creditors or debt collectors can file a lawsuit to collect it, most often between three and six years. | 2026 |
Sources
- Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. 15 U.S. Code 1681c - Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reports.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 12 CFR 1006.26 - Collection of time-barred debts.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can debt collectors collect a debt that's several years old?.