Statute of limitations on debt in Arizona
In Arizona, a creditor or debt collector has 6 years to sue on a written contract, 3 years on an oral agreement, and 6 years on an open account such as a credit card (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-548(A)(1)-(2) (6 years, written contracts and credit card debt); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-543 (3 years, oral contracts and open accounts); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-508 (revival of barred debt only by signed writing)). For medical bills, the operative number is 3 years — Arizona has no medical-debt-specific limitations statute. A medical bill not founded on a signed writing is an open account/oral obligation under A.R.S. § 12-543 (3 years) — the shortest defensible period — but where the patient signed an admission or financial-responsibility agreement (typical at hospitals) providers invoke the 6-year written-contract period of A.R.S. § 12-548(A)(1), so consumers should not assume a hospital bill is time-barred before 6 years. Note on open accounts: traditional open accounts are 3 years under § 12-543(2), but credit-card accounts specifically are 6 years under § 12-548(A)(2) (2011 amendment) — the 6 shown reflects credit-card-style accounts.
| Written contracts | 6 years |
| Oral agreements | 3 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 6 years |
| Medical debt | 3 years |
How the limitation works
- It limits lawsuits, not the debt. A time-barred debt still exists; what expires is the collector’s ability to win in court.
- It is a defense you must raise. Courts don’t apply it for you. If you are sued and don’t respond, the collector wins by default — even on a time-barred debt.
- The clock usually runs from last activity — typically your last payment — not from when the debt was sold. A debt buyer inherits the original clock.
- Threatening to sue on time-barred debt is illegal. Federal Regulation F (12 C.F.R. §1006.26) bars collectors from suing or threatening suit on time-barred debt, whether or not they knew it was time-barred.
The restart trap
Before the period expires, Arizona case law treats a voluntary partial payment as an acknowledgment that restarts the clock; once the debt is time-barred, A.R.S. § 12-508 allows revival only through an acknowledgment in writing signed by the debtor.This is the single most expensive mistake people make with old debt: a small “good-faith” payment on a nearly-expired account can hand the collector a fresh lawsuit window. Confirm the dates before paying anything on an old account.
What to do with an old collection notice
- Find the date of last activity — your own bank records beat the collector’s letter.
- Count forward using the table above. Older than the period? The debt may be time-barred in Arizona.
- Send a written validation request — it forces the collector to document the debt and pauses collection until it does (15 U.S.C. §1692g). Generate it free →
- Do not acknowledge the debt in writing or pay anything until you know where the clock stands.
- If you’re sued, respond by the deadline and raise the statute of limitations. Your state’s legal aid can help free: Arizona Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection (Consumer Information and Complaints Unit).
Arizona’s own collection law
The Arizona collection agency statute (no comprehensive mini-FDCPA) (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1001 et seq.; see also Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 44-1521 et seq. (Consumer Fraud Act)) Arizona regulates collectors through its collection-agency licensing chapter (A.R.S. Title 32, ch. 9) and the general Consumer Fraud Act rather than a standalone state FDCPA; the federal FDCPA supplies most conduct rules. Yes — it is unlawful to operate a collection agency in Arizona without a license under A.R.S. § 32-1021 (with surety bond), issued through NMLS by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI).
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Arizona?
Arizona allows 6 years to sue on written contracts, 3 years on oral agreements, and 6 years on open accounts such as credit cards (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-548(A)(1)-(2) (6 years, written contracts and credit card debt); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-543 (3 years, oral contracts and open accounts); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-508 (revival of barred debt only by signed writing)). Medical debt is generally treated as an open account or per its own rule here — 3 years.
When does the clock start?
Generally from the date of default or last activity on the account — commonly the last payment or charge — not from when the debt was sold to a collector. Selling a debt does not reset the statute of limitations.
Does paying something on an old debt restart the statute of limitations in Arizona?
Before the period expires, Arizona case law treats a voluntary partial payment as an acknowledgment that restarts the clock; once the debt is time-barred, A.R.S. § 12-508 allows revival only through an acknowledgment in writing signed by the debtor.
Can a collector still contact me about a time-barred debt?
Yes — the statute of limitations limits lawsuits, not requests to pay. However, under federal Regulation F (12 C.F.R. §1006.26), a collector may not sue or threaten to sue on a time-barred debt — the ban applies whether or not the collector knew the debt was too old.
What should I do if I get sued on an old debt?
Respond by the court deadline — never ignore a summons, because a default judgment revives everything. If the debt is older than the limitations period, raise the statute of limitations as an affirmative defense in your answer. Many defendants win on this alone.
How is a judgment different?
Once a creditor wins a judgment, a separate and much longer enforcement period applies, and judgments can often be renewed. That is why responding before judgment matters more than anything else on this page.
Keep reading
- Medical debt laws in Arizona
- Free debt validation letter generator — no account needed
- Look up a debt collector — CFPB complaint records for the biggest agencies
- Charity care: hospital financial assistance, applied
- Medical debt laws in Georgia
- Medical debt laws in Kentucky
- Medical debt laws in Mississippi
- Medical debt laws in New Mexico
- Medical debt laws in Pennsylvania
- Medical debt laws in Vermont
Legal information, not legal advice. Statutes change and courts interpret them — for advice on your situation, talk to a lawyer or your state’s legal aid office. Last reviewed AUG 2026.