Statute of limitations on debt in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, 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 (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. (RSA) 508:4, I (3 years for all personal actions); see also RSA 382-A:2-725 (4 yrs, sale of goods) and RSA 382-A:3-118 (negotiable instruments)). For medical bills, the operative number is 3 years — New Hampshire's catch-all 3-year limit on 'all personal actions' (RSA 508:4, I) covers written contracts, oral contracts, open accounts, and medical bills alike — there is no separate medical-debt period. (Sales of goods get 4 years under RSA 382-A:2-725, and contracts under seal/judgments get 20 years under RSA 508:5, but an ordinary medical bill is a 3-year personal action.)
| 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
Yes — under NH case law (Premier Capital v. Gallagher, 144 N.H. 284 (1999)), a debtor's payments or acknowledgments of liability indicating willingness to pay the debt toll/restart the limitations period, so a partial payment on old debt can restart the 3-year clock.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 New Hampshire.
- 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: New Hampshire Department of Justice, Consumer Protection & Antitrust Bureau.
New Hampshire’s own collection law
The Unfair, Deceptive or Unreasonable Collection Practices Act (RSA 358-C) RSA 358-C prohibits unfair, deceptive, or unreasonable collection practices, applies more broadly than the federal FDCPA (it covers original creditors collecting their own debts), and a violation is also an unfair/deceptive act under the Consumer Protection Act, RSA 358-A, enforceable by the Attorney General with a private right of action. New Hampshire has no general state licensing regime for ordinary third-party collection agencies (they are regulated by conduct rules under RSA 358-C), though the NH Banking Department licenses related consumer-credit businesses such as debt adjusters under RSA 399-D — some compliance vendors disagree, so verify with the NH Banking Department before relying on this.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on debt in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire allows 3 years to sue on written contracts, 3 years on oral agreements, and 3 years on open accounts such as credit cards (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. (RSA) 508:4, I (3 years for all personal actions); see also RSA 382-A:2-725 (4 yrs, sale of goods) and RSA 382-A:3-118 (negotiable instruments)). 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 New Hampshire?
Yes — under NH case law (Premier Capital v. Gallagher, 144 N.H. 284 (1999)), a debtor's payments or acknowledgments of liability indicating willingness to pay the debt toll/restart the limitations period, so a partial payment on old debt can restart the 3-year clock.
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 New Hampshire
- 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 Oklahoma
- Medical debt laws in Texas
- Medical debt laws in Wyoming
- Medical debt laws in Connecticut
- Medical debt laws in Indiana
- Medical debt laws in Massachusetts
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.