Credit Card Debt Statute of Limitations in Indiana
Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 ✓ verified · 3 sources
The deadline
6 years
from the date of default — the first missed payment (last activity/last payment) on the account, under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9.
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Indiana law sets a hard deadline of 6 years to sue over unpaid credit card debt. The controlling statute is Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9, and the clock generally starts on the date of default — the first missed payment (last activity/last payment) on the account. Below: exactly when that clock starts, the exceptions that can pause it, and the traps that shorten it.
Indiana Deadlines for Related Claims
| Claim type | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Debt | 6 years | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 |
| Car Accident | 2 yrs | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4(a) |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 yrs | Ind. Code § 34-18-7-1 |
| Wrongful Death | 2 yrs | Indiana Code § 34-23-1-1 |
| Personal Injury | 2 yrs | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4(a)(1) |
| Dog Bite | 2 yrs | Ind. Code § 15-20-1-3 |
| Slip and Fall | 2 yrs | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 |
| Defamation | 2 yrs | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4 |
| Breach of Contract | 10 yrs | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-11 |
| Medical Debt | 6 yrs | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 |
When the Clock Starts
In Indiana, the limitations period for credit card debt collection generally begins on the date of default — the first missed payment (last activity/last payment) on the account. Indiana does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.
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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.
Credit-card debt is treated as a 'written contract for the payment of money' under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 (6 years); an account not in writing is likewise 6 years under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-7. Revival is allowed and NOT barred: a voluntary partial payment or a signed written acknowledgment/new promise restarts the 6-year period (Ind. Code § 34-11-2-11 recognizes a written acknowledgment or promise to renew the limitation).
Source: Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9, official Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana Compares to Nearby States
| State | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 6 years | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 |
| Illinois | 5 yrs | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 |
| Kentucky | 5 yrs | KRS § 413.120 |
| Ohio | 6 yrs | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07(C) |
| Michigan | 6 yrs | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(9) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to sue over unpaid credit card debt in Indiana?
You have 6 years from the date of default — the first missed payment (last activity/last payment) on the account, under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9.
Can I still sue after 6 years in Indiana?
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.
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Sources
- Official Indiana General Assembly — Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 (contracts for payment of money, six years)
- Corroborating Justia — Indiana Code § 34-11-2-9
- Corroborating Indiana Public Law — Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9
- 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 Indiana attorney.