how many years can a debt be collected on
What Is a Statute of Limitations on a Debt? As we mentioned above, every state has a statute of limitations that limits how long a creditor or debt collector can successfully collect a debt. In California, for instance, the statute of limitations varies by the type of lawsuit. A breach of a written contract is given four years from the date the contract was broken, while property damage allows three years from the date the damage occurred.