Statute of limitations on debt in Indiana
In Indiana, a creditor or debt collector has 6 years to sue on a written contract, 6 years on an oral agreement, and 6 years on an open account such as a credit card (Ind. Code §§ 34-11-2-7, 34-11-2-9). For medical bills, the operative number is 6 years — Unambiguous in outcome: medical bills are 'accounts' or unwritten contracts under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-7 (6 years), and even if a signed payment agreement makes them written contracts for the payment of money, Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 also gives 6 years (contracts executed after Aug. 31, 1982). Only written contracts NOT for the payment of money get 10 years (§ 34-11-2-11), which does not fit a medical bill.
| Written contracts | 6 years |
| Oral agreements | 6 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 6 years |
| Medical debt | 6 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
Yes - under Ind. Code ch. 34-11-9 a signed written acknowledgment or new promise restarts the period, and a voluntary partial payment likewise operates as an acknowledgment restarting the clock, though a payment binds only the payer, not co-debtors (Ind. Code § 34-11-9-3).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 Indiana.
- 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: Indiana Attorney General Consumer Protection Division.
Indiana’s own collection law
The Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act (applied to debt collection) and Collection Agency licensing act (Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5; Ind. Code § 25-11-1) Indiana has no comprehensive mini-FDCPA; abusive or deceptive collection conduct is pursued under the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act (Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5), and third-party collection agencies are separately regulated and licensed under Ind. Code § 25-11-1, with rules enforced by the Secretary of State. Yes - third-party collection agencies must be licensed by the Indiana Secretary of State (Securities Division) under Ind. Code § 25-11-1.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Indiana?
Indiana allows 6 years to sue on written contracts, 6 years on oral agreements, and 6 years on open accounts such as credit cards (Ind. Code §§ 34-11-2-7, 34-11-2-9). Medical debt is generally treated as a written contract here — 6 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 Indiana?
Yes - under Ind. Code ch. 34-11-9 a signed written acknowledgment or new promise restarts the period, and a voluntary partial payment likewise operates as an acknowledgment restarting the clock, though a payment binds only the payer, not co-debtors (Ind. Code § 34-11-9-3).
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 Indiana
- 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 Massachusetts
- Medical debt laws in Nevada
- Medical debt laws in Ohio
- Medical debt laws in Tennessee
- Medical debt laws in Wisconsin
- Medical debt laws in Colorado
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.