Statute of limitations on debt in Iowa
In Iowa, a creditor or debt collector has 10 years to sue on a written contract, 5 years on an oral agreement, and 5 years on an open account such as a credit card (Iowa Code § 614.1(4), (5)). For medical bills, the operative number is 5 years — Medical bills are ordinarily unwritten/open-account obligations under Iowa Code § 614.1(4) (5 years); Iowa case law holds even credit-card balances are actions on oral rather than written contracts despite statements and terms-and-conditions, and an open account accrues from the last item (last charge or payment). If the patient signed an actual written payment contract, a collector could claim 10 years under § 614.1(5)(a) - so 5 years is the shortest defensible period, with that caveat.
| Written contracts | 10 years |
| Oral agreements | 5 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 5 years |
| Medical debt | 5 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
Generally no - Iowa Code § 614.11 revives a contract claim only by a signed written admission that the debt is unpaid or a like new written promise, so partial payment alone does not restart a stale claim, though a payment on an open account can reset accrual because such accounts accrue from the last item.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 Iowa.
- 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: Iowa Attorney General Consumer Protection Division.
Iowa’s own collection law
The Iowa Debt Collection Practices Act (part of the Iowa Consumer Credit Code) (Iowa Code §§ 537.7101-537.7103) Prohibits harassment, abuse, false or misleading representations, and unfair practices in collecting consumer debts, and - broader than the federal FDCPA - applies to original creditors and assignees collecting their own debts as well as third-party collectors; enforced by the Attorney General with private remedies under the ICCC. No license required - Iowa does not license collection agencies, but debt collectors above an annually indexed volume threshold ($73,400 for 2026) must file a notification with the Iowa Attorney General and pay a $50 annual fee under the Iowa Consumer Credit Code.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Iowa?
Iowa allows 10 years to sue on written contracts, 5 years on oral agreements, and 5 years on open accounts such as credit cards (Iowa Code § 614.1(4), (5)). Medical debt is generally treated as an open account or per its own rule here — 5 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 Iowa?
Generally no - Iowa Code § 614.11 revives a contract claim only by a signed written admission that the debt is unpaid or a like new written promise, so partial payment alone does not restart a stale claim, though a payment on an open account can reset accrual because such accounts accrue from the last item.
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 Iowa
- 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 Michigan
- Medical debt laws in New Hampshire
- Medical debt laws in Oklahoma
- Medical debt laws in Texas
- Medical debt laws in Wyoming
- Medical debt laws in Connecticut
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.