Credit Card Debt Statute of Limitations in Maine

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: 14 M.R.S. § 752 ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

6 years

from the date of default — the last payment or last charge (when the cause of action accrues), under 14 M.R.S. § 752.

The deadline to sue over unpaid credit card debt in Maine is 6 years, set by 14 M.R.S. § 752. It starts running on the date of default — the last payment or last charge (when the cause of action accrues). This page covers the exceptions, the government-claim trap, and the steps to take before time runs out.

Maine Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Credit Card Debt	6 years	14 M.R.S. § 752
Car Accident	6 yrs	14 M.R.S. § 752
Medical Malpractice	3 yrs	24 M.R.S. § 2902
Wrongful Death	3 yrs	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 18-C, § 2-807
Personal Injury	6 yrs	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752
Dog Bite	6 yrs	7 M.R.S. § 3961
Slip and Fall	6 yrs	14 M.R.S. § 752
Defamation	2 yrs	14 M.R.S. § 753
Breach of Contract	6 yrs	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752
Medical Debt	6 yrs	14 M.R.S. § 752

When the Clock Starts

In Maine, the limitations period for credit card debt collection generally begins on the date of default — the last payment or last charge (when the cause of action accrues). Maine 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.

Credit-card debt falls under the catch-all 6-year period for all civil actions / contracts and open accounts in § 752. Revival trap: under 14 M.R.S. § 755 a new promise or acknowledgment revives the debt only if made in a signed writing; a partial payment can also restart the clock.

Source: 14 M.R.S. § 752, official Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
Maine	6 years	14 M.R.S. § 752
New Hampshire	3 yrs	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4
Massachusetts	6 yrs	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2
Vermont	6 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 511

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You have 6 years from the date of default — the last payment or last charge (when the cause of action accrues), under 14 M.R.S. § 752.

Can I still sue after 6 years in Maine?

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 14 M.R.S. § 752 — Six years (Maine Legislature official)
Corroborating Maine Revised Statutes 14 § 752 (Justia US Codes)
Corroborating Maine Rev. Stat. Tit. 14 § 752 (FindLaw Codes)
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 Maine attorney.