Credit Card Debt Statute of Limitations in Louisiana

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: La. Civ. Code art. 3494 ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

3 years

from the date of default — the last payment or last charge; prescription runs from the last transaction on the account, under La. Civ. Code art. 3494.

Under La. Civ. Code art. 3494, you have 3 years from the date of default — the last payment or last charge; prescription runs from the last transaction on the account to sue over unpaid credit card debt in Louisiana. Miss it and you lose the right to sue — but several Louisiana-specific exceptions can extend (or shorten) that window, detailed below.

Louisiana Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Credit Card Debt	3 years	La. Civ. Code art. 3494
Car Accident	2 yrs	La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1
Medical Malpractice	1 yr	La. R.S. 9:5628(A)
Wrongful Death	1 yr	La. C.C. Art. 2315.2
Personal Injury	2 yrs	La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 (Acts 2024, No. 423, eff. July 1, 2024)
Dog Bite	1 yr	La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 2321
Slip and Fall	2 yrs	La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1
Defamation	2 yrs	La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3493.1
Breach of Contract	10 yrs	La. Civ. Code art. 3499
Medical Debt	3 yrs	La. Civ. Code Art. 3494

When the Clock Starts

In Louisiana, the limitations period for credit card debt collection generally begins on the date of default — the last payment or last charge; prescription runs from the last transaction on the account. Louisiana does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.

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.

Louisiana calls it liberative prescription, not a statute of limitations; credit-card debt is an open account (also 'money lent') under art. 3494(4), giving 3 years. Revival trap: an acknowledgment of the debt interrupts prescription (art. 3464) and a partial payment restarts the 3-year period from scratch.

Source: La. Civ. Code art. 3494, official Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
Louisiana	3 years	La. Civ. Code art. 3494
Texas	4 yrs	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004(a)(3)
Arkansas	5 yrs	Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111(a)
Mississippi	3 yrs	Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-29

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to sue over unpaid credit card debt in Louisiana?

You have 3 years from the date of default — the last payment or last charge; prescription runs from the last transaction on the account, under La. Civ. Code art. 3494.

Can I still sue after 3 years in Louisiana?

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.

Sources

Official La. Civil Code art. 3494 (Louisiana State Legislature official)
Corroborating Louisiana Civil Code Article 3494 (Justia US Codes)
Corroborating Statute of Limitations in All 50 States (Nolo)
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 Louisiana attorney.