Credit Card Debt Statute of Limitations in Colorado
Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a) ✓ verified · 3 sources
The deadline
6 years
from the date of default — the first missed payment (last payment/last activity) after which the account is never brought current, under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a).
Advertisement
If you're researching credit card debt collection in Colorado, the single most important number is 6 years. That's how long Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a) gives you to sue over unpaid credit card debt, counted from the date of default — the first missed payment (last payment/last activity) after which the account is never brought current. File even one day late and the court will almost certainly dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.
Colorado Deadlines for Related Claims
| Claim type | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Debt | 6 years | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a) |
| Car Accident | 3 yrs | C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n) |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 yrs | C.R.S. § 13-80-102.5 |
| Wrongful Death | 2 yrs | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-204 (via § 13-80-102) |
| Personal Injury | 2 yrs | C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a) |
| Dog Bite | 2 yrs | C.R.S. § 13-80-102 |
| Slip and Fall | 2 yrs | C.R.S. § 13-80-102 |
| Defamation | 1 yr | C.R.S. § 13-80-103(1)(a) |
| Breach of Contract | 3 yrs | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101(1)(a) |
| Medical Debt | 6 yrs | C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5 |
When the Clock Starts
In Colorado, the limitations period for credit card debt collection generally begins on the date of default — the first missed payment (last payment/last activity) after which the account is never brought current. Colorado does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.
Advertisement
Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline
- Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
- Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.
Colorado courts treat credit-card debt as a 'liquidated debt or unliquidated, determinable amount of money' under the 6-year statute (§ 13-80-103.5), not the 3-year general contract statute (§ 13-80-101). Revival is allowed: a voluntary partial payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt restarts the 6-year clock.
Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a), official Colorado statute · verified 2026-07
What to Do Before the Deadline Runs
- Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
- Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
- Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for Colorado government defendants).
- If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.
How Colorado Compares to Nearby States
| State | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 6 years | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a) |
| Wyoming | 8 yrs | Wyo. Stat. 1-3-105(a)(ii) |
| Nebraska | 4 yrs | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-206 |
| Kansas | 3 yrs | K.S.A. § 60-512(1) |
| Oklahoma | 5 yrs | 12 O.S. § 95(A)(1) |
| New Mexico | 4 yrs | N.M.S.A. 1978, § 37-1-4 |
| Utah | 4 yrs | Utah Code § 78B-2-307(1) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to sue over unpaid credit card debt in Colorado?
You have 6 years from the date of default — the first missed payment (last payment/last activity) after which the account is never brought current, under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a).
Can I still sue after 6 years in Colorado?
Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.
Advertisement
Sources
- Official Colorado Revised Statutes Title 13, § 13-80-103.5 (official CRS PDF, Colorado General Assembly)
- Corroborating C.R.S. 13-80-103.5 – General limitation of actions – six years (Colorado Public Law)
- Corroborating Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-80-103.5 (Justia)
- Verified 2026-07 under our 4-step process — every line checked against the sources above. How we verify
This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed Colorado attorney.