Statute of limitations on debt in Nevada
In Nevada, a creditor or debt collector has 6 years to sue on a written contract, 4 years on an oral agreement, and 4 years on an open account such as a credit card (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(1)(b) (written, 6 yrs); § 11.190(2)(a) (open account, 4 yrs); § 11.190(2)(c) (not founded on written instrument, 4 yrs)). For medical bills, the operative number is 4 years — Nevada has no medical-debt-specific limitations statute. A typical unpaid medical bill is a contract/obligation 'not founded upon an instrument in writing' under NRS 11.190(2)(c) — 4 years (open accounts for goods are also 4 years under NRS 11.190(2)(a)); a bill based on a signed written admission/payment agreement could fall under the 6-year written-instrument period of NRS 11.190(1)(b). Use 4 years. A voluntary payment made to a collector during the SB 248 60-day notice window does not extend the limitations period (NRS ch. 649, as amended by SB 248 (2021)).
| Written contracts | 6 years |
| Oral agreements | 4 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 4 years |
| Medical debt | 4 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 expiration, a payment on principal or interest restarts the clock from the date of payment (NRS 11.200), and a written signed acknowledgment can renew the obligation (NRS 11.390) — but once the period has fully expired, NRS 11.200(2) provides that payment, affirmation, or other activity by the debtor does NOT revive it.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 Nevada.
- 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: Nevada Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Nevada’s own collection law
The Nevada Collection Agencies chapter (Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 649) NRS chapter 649 licenses collection agencies and prohibits unfair practices (NRS 649.375), incorporates FDCPA-type conduct standards, and contains Nevada's medical-debt collection rules added by SB 248 (2021). Yes — collection agencies (including those collecting medical debt) must be licensed by the Commissioner of Financial Institutions, Nevada Financial Institutions Division (Department of Business and Industry), under NRS chapter 649.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Nevada?
Nevada allows 6 years to sue on written contracts, 4 years on oral agreements, and 4 years on open accounts such as credit cards (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(1)(b) (written, 6 yrs); § 11.190(2)(a) (open account, 4 yrs); § 11.190(2)(c) (not founded on written instrument, 4 yrs)). Medical debt is generally treated as an open account or per its own rule here — 4 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 Nevada?
Before expiration, a payment on principal or interest restarts the clock from the date of payment (NRS 11.200), and a written signed acknowledgment can renew the obligation (NRS 11.390) — but once the period has fully expired, NRS 11.200(2) provides that payment, affirmation, or other activity by the debtor does NOT revive it.
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 Nevada
- 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 Ohio
- Medical debt laws in Tennessee
- Medical debt laws in Wisconsin
- Medical debt laws in Colorado
- Medical debt laws in Illinois
- Medical debt laws in Maryland
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.