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Statute of Limitations on Debt in Alabama

In Alabama, a creditor generally has 6 years to sue on a written or oral contract or a promissory note, and 3 years on an open account.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Alabama at a glance

Written contracts
6 years
Covers promises in writing not under seal.
Oral contracts
6 years
Oral agreements fall under the 6-year rule for simple contracts not otherwise listed.
Promissory notes
6 years
For a negotiable note payable at a definite time, counted from the due date or accelerated due date.
Open accounts
3 years
Counted from the last item on the account. A stated or liquidated account, or a loan, has 6 years.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Alabama

What is the statute of limitations for a written contract in Alabama?

Written contracts in Alabama: 6 years. Covers promises in writing not under seal.

What is the statute of limitations for an oral contract in Alabama?

Oral contracts in Alabama: 6 years. Oral agreements fall under the 6-year rule for simple contracts not otherwise listed.

What is the statute of limitations on a promissory note in Alabama?

Promissory notes in Alabama: 6 years. For a negotiable note payable at a definite time, counted from the due date or accelerated due date.

What is the statute of limitations on an open account, such as a credit card, in Alabama?

Open accounts in Alabama: 3 years. Counted from the last item on the account. A stated or liquidated account, or a loan, has 6 years.

Where do the Alabama statutes of limitations on debt come from?

The rules above come from Ala. Code 6-2-34, Ala. Code 6-2-37 and Ala. Code 7-3-118. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The 3-year period for an open account runs from the date of the last item or from when the account is due by contract or usage.

What this means in practice

The clock usually starts when the debt is breached, which for a loan or account is often the date of the missed payment or the last payment made. In some states a new payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt can restart or extend the period, so the starting date matters as much as the length.

A statute of limitations is generally a defense the person being sued has to raise. If a lawsuit on an old debt is filed and nobody responds, the court can enter a judgment even if the period had expired. Judgments have their own, separate enforcement periods.

Which state's deadline applies is not always obvious. Contracts may contain a choice of law clause, and some states have borrowing statutes that apply a shorter period from another state. Federal rules also bar debt collectors from suing or threatening to sue on time-barred consumer debt. For a specific dispute, check the statute and consider talking to an attorney.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.