Statute of limitations on debt in Maryland
In Maryland, a creditor or debt collector has 3 years to sue on a written contract, 3 years on an oral agreement, and 3 years on an open account such as a credit card (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 (3 years, general); § 5-102 (12 years, specialties/contracts under seal); § 5-1202 (no revival of expired consumer debt)). For medical bills, the operative number is 3 years — Maryland's general 3-year period for civil actions (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) covers written contracts, oral contracts, open accounts, and medical bills alike, so medical debt is 3 years with no classification ambiguity; the only longer period is 12 years for 'specialties' such as contracts under seal and promissory notes under seal (§ 5-102), which ordinary medical bills are not.
| Written contracts | 3 years |
| Oral agreements | 3 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 3 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 3 years run, an acknowledgment or payment can restart the clock under Maryland common law, but once the limitations period on a consumer debt has expired, no payment, affirmation (written or oral), or other activity can revive or extend it (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-1202, enacted 2016).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 Maryland.
- 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: Maryland Attorney General Consumer Protection Division.
Maryland’s own collection law
The Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act (MCDCA) (Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-201 et seq.) The MCDCA bars collectors from threats, abuse, disclosure of debts to third parties, and claiming, attempting, or threatening to enforce a right that does not exist — including suing or threatening suit on time-barred debt; violations are also per se violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act (Com. Law § 13-301) and support private damages actions. Yes — a person doing business as a collection agency in Maryland (including debt buyers) must be licensed by the State Collection Agency Licensing Board within the Office of Financial Regulation under the Maryland Collection Agency Licensing Act, Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 7-301.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Maryland?
Maryland allows 3 years to sue on written contracts, 3 years on oral agreements, and 3 years on open accounts such as credit cards (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 (3 years, general); § 5-102 (12 years, specialties/contracts under seal); § 5-1202 (no revival of expired consumer debt)). Medical debt is generally treated as a written contract 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 Maryland?
Before the 3 years run, an acknowledgment or payment can restart the clock under Maryland common law, but once the limitations period on a consumer debt has expired, no payment, affirmation (written or oral), or other activity can revive or extend it (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-1202, enacted 2016).
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 Maryland
- 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 Nebraska
- Medical debt laws in North Dakota
- Medical debt laws in South Dakota
- Medical debt laws in West Virginia
- Medical debt laws in California
- Medical debt laws in Idaho
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.