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Statute of Limitations on Debt in Maryland

In Maryland, most contract and debt lawsuits must be filed within 3 years, a negotiable note payable at a definite time has 6 years, and a note or contract under seal has 12 years.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maryland at a glance

Written contracts
3 years
Contracts under seal (specialties) have 12 years.
Oral contracts
3 years
Promissory notes
6 years
Six years for a negotiable note payable at a definite time under the UCC. A note under seal has 12 years.
Open accounts
3 years
General 3-year rule for civil actions.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maryland

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

Written contracts in Maryland: 3 years. Contracts under seal (specialties) have 12 years.

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

Oral contracts in Maryland: 3 years.

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

Promissory notes in Maryland: 6 years. Six years for a negotiable note payable at a definite time under the UCC. A note under seal has 12 years.

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

Open accounts in Maryland: 3 years. General 3-year rule for civil actions.

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

The rules above come from Md. Code, Cts. and Jud. Proc. 5-101, Md. Code, Cts. and Jud. Proc. 5-102, Md. Code, Com. Law 3-118 and Md. Code, Cts. and Jud. Proc. 5-1202. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

For consumer debt, a payment or acknowledgment after the limitations period expires does not revive or extend it (Cts. and Jud. Proc. 5-1202).

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.