Written Contract Statute of Limitations: State-by-State Comparison

From 3 years to 15 years — here's how long each state gives you to sue for breach of a written contract, and what affects that deadline.

Range: Written contract deadlines span from 3 years (Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, D.C.) to 15 years (no US state currently; highest is Rhode Island and some others at 10 years). The most common written contract period is 6 years.

Written vs. Oral: The Gap in Every State

Every state rewards the formality of a written contract with a longer limitations period. On average, written contract deadlines are about 2 years longer than oral contract deadlines in the same state. This gap is the law's way of incentivizing parties to document their agreements in writing.

StateWritten ContractOral ContractGap
Alabama6 years6 years0 years
Alaska3 years3 years0 years
Arizona6 years3 years+3 years
Arkansas5 years3 years+2 years
California4 years2 years+2 years
Colorado3 years3 years0 years
Connecticut6 years3 years+3 years
Delaware3 years3 years0 years
Florida5 years4 years+1 year
Georgia6 years4 years+2 years
Hawaii6 years6 years0 years
Idaho5 years4 years+1 year
Illinois10 years5 years+5 years
Indiana10 years6 years+4 years
Iowa5 years5 years0 years
Kansas5 years3 years+2 years
Kentucky10 years5 years+5 years
Louisiana10 years3 years+7 years
Maine6 years6 years0 years
Maryland3 years3 years0 years
Massachusetts6 years6 years0 years
Michigan6 years6 years0 years
Minnesota6 years6 years0 years
Mississippi3 years3 years0 years
Missouri10 years5 years+5 years
Montana8 years5 years+3 years
Nebraska5 years4 years+1 year
Nevada6 years4 years+2 years
New Hampshire3 years3 years0 years
New Jersey6 years6 years0 years
New Mexico6 years4 years+2 years
New York6 years6 years0 years
North Carolina3 years3 years0 years
North Dakota6 years6 years0 years
Ohio6 years6 years0 years
Oklahoma5 years3 years+2 years
Oregon6 years6 years0 years
Pennsylvania4 years4 years0 years
Rhode Island10 years10 years0 years
South Carolina3 years3 years0 years
South Dakota6 years6 years0 years
Tennessee6 years3 years+3 years
Texas4 years4 years0 years
Utah6 years4 years+2 years
Vermont6 years6 years0 years
Virginia5 years3 years+2 years
Washington6 years3 years+3 years
West Virginia10 years5 years+5 years
Wisconsin6 years6 years0 years
Wyoming8 years8 years0 years
Washington D.C.3 years3 years0 years

States With the Largest Gap Between Written and Oral

Biggest Written Contract Advantage

  • Louisiana: +7 years (10 vs. 3)
  • Illinois: +5 years (10 vs. 5)
  • Kentucky: +5 years (10 vs. 5)
  • Missouri: +5 years (10 vs. 5)
  • West Virginia: +5 years (10 vs. 5)

In Louisiana, the difference between a written and oral contract is a full 7 additional years — by far the largest gap in the country.

No Difference (Same Period)

  • Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming, D.C.

These states treat written and oral contracts identically for limitations purposes.

When Does the Contract Clock Start?

In most contract cases, the clock starts on the date of breach — not when the contract was signed, and not when you discover you've been harmed. For installment contracts (e.g., monthly payments), each missed payment may constitute a separate breach with its own accrual date, creating multiple overlapping deadlines.

Exceptions where the clock may start later include deliberate concealment of the breach (fraudulent concealment), cases where the breach wasn't discoverable through reasonable diligence, and construction defect cases where damage appears years after completion.

Calculate Your Contract Claim Deadline

⏱ Use the Calculator Full State Table
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: Contract statutes of limitations vary by state and specific contract type. This comparison is general information only. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for advice on your specific situation.