Statute of limitations on debt in North Dakota
In North Dakota, 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 (N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1)). For medical bills, the operative number is 6 years — N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1) applies one uniform 6-year period to any action 'upon a contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied,' so medical bills — like written contracts, oral contracts, and open accounts — are 6 years; North Dakota has no medical-debt-specific limitations statute (though under § 13-01-14.1 a medical account does not even become delinquent until 90 days after the billed services are received).
| 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 — payment of principal or interest restarts the 6-year period, while an acknowledgment or new promise extends it only if contained in a writing signed by the debtor (N.D.C.C. § 28-01-36, which expressly preserves 'the effect of any payment of principal or interest').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 North Dakota.
- 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: North Dakota Attorney General, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division.
North Dakota’s own collection law
The North Dakota Collection Agencies chapter (N.D.C.C. ch. 13-05 (licensing, § 13-05-02; prohibited acts and practices, § 13-05-06.3)) Requires collection agencies collecting from North Dakota debtors to be licensed and bonded, and prohibits unfair and abusive collection acts and practices, with administration by the Department of Financial Institutions. Yes — anyone engaging in debt collection against a debtor residing in North Dakota must hold a collection agency license from the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (N.D.C.C. § 13-05-02), subject to the exemptions in § 13-05-02.3.
Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on debt in North Dakota?
North Dakota allows 6 years to sue on written contracts, 6 years on oral agreements, and 6 years on open accounts such as credit cards (N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1)). 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 North Dakota?
Yes — payment of principal or interest restarts the 6-year period, while an acknowledgment or new promise extends it only if contained in a writing signed by the debtor (N.D.C.C. § 28-01-36, which expressly preserves 'the effect of any payment of principal or interest').
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 North Dakota
- 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 South Dakota
- Medical debt laws in West Virginia
- Medical debt laws in California
- Medical debt laws in Idaho
- Medical debt laws in Maine
- Medical debt laws in Montana
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.