In Nevada, a creditor generally has six years to sue on a debt backed by a written contract, and four years on an oral agreement or an open account for goods [1]. The clock runs from the last transaction or the last payment [2], and only a signed writing can renew an old debt by acknowledgment [3]. A court judgment lasts six years and can be renewed [1].
At a glance
| Type of debt | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Contract, obligation or liability founded on an instrument in writing | 6 years | NRS 11.190(1)(b) |
| Judgment or decree of a court, or its renewal | 6 years | NRS 11.190(1)(a) |
| Contract, obligation or liability not founded on an instrument in writing | 4 years | NRS 11.190(2)(c) |
| Open account for goods, wares and merchandise sold and delivered | 4 years | NRS 11.190(2)(a) |
Written or not
Nevada sorts most debts by whether there’s a written instrument behind them [1]:
- Written contracts and obligations: 6 years.
- Contracts and obligations not in writing: 4 years.
- Open accounts for goods sold and delivered, like a running store tab: 4 years.
Which rule applies to a particular credit card or loan depends on its paperwork. If you’re sued on an old account, ask the creditor to show the written agreement it’s relying on.
When the clock starts, and what restarts it
Nevada counts the time from the last transaction, the last item charged or the last credit given [2]. On an existing debt like a promissory note, if a payment on principal or interest is made after the debt came due, the time runs from the date of that last payment [2].
An acknowledgment or a new promise to pay isn’t enough on its own to take a debt out of the time limits. It has to be in writing and signed by the person being charged [3].
What “time-barred” means
A debt is time-barred once the deadline to sue has passed. Collectors can still ask you to pay, but they can’t sue or threaten to sue you over it [5].
If you’re sued anyway, the deadline doesn’t protect you on its own. You have to tell the court that time has run out [5]. Read the court papers, respond on time, and raise it. If you don’t, the court can enter a judgment against you.
Judgments
Once a creditor wins in court, Nevada allows six years for an action on the judgment, and the same period applies to a renewed judgment [1]. Because judgments can be renewed, one can outlast the original debt’s deadline by many years.
The credit report clock is different
How long a debt can appear on your credit report is a federal rule, separate from Nevada’s deadline to sue. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, collection accounts and charged-off accounts generally can’t be reported once they’re more than seven years old, with the seven years starting 180 days after the delinquency began [4]. A debt can drop off your report while it’s still collectible in court, or stay on your report after the deadline to sue has passed.
Accurate information can be reported for that full period. If an account is wrong, or still listed after the reporting period ends, you can dispute it with the credit bureaus for free. For more on the federal timelines, see BestAmerica’s guide to how long negative items stay on a credit report.
Want help with it? A credit repair company can go through all three of your reports, spot old debts that are listed past the reporting period, re-aged or reported inaccurately, and file and follow up on the disputes with each bureau for you. That saves you the letters, deadlines and back-and-forth. Federal law gives you clear protections when you hire one: a written contract that spells out the services, total cost and timeline [7], the right to cancel within three business days [8], and no charge until the promised services are performed [6]. Accurate, current information can’t be removed, and results vary. See BestAmerica’s guide to how credit repair works.
Where to get help
- Legal aid: Nevada legal aid programs can help eligible people answer a debt lawsuit.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov): takes complaints about debt collectors [5].
- A consumer attorney: worth a call if you’re sued on an old debt.
Sources
- NRS 11.190: Periods of limitation
- NRS 11.200: Computation of time (last transaction, item charged, credit given or payment)
- NRS 11.390: Acknowledgment or new promise must be in writing
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c (Fair Credit Reporting Act, how long items stay)
- CFPB: What is a statute of limitations on a debt?
- 15 U.S.C. § 1679b, Prohibited practices (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1679d, Credit repair organizations contracts (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1679e, Right to cancel contract (Cornell LII)
Next steps
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Credit repair company
Credit Saint
If an old debt or another item on your credit report looks wrong, Credit Saint can help you challenge it with the credit bureaus.
You can also dispute errors yourself, for free, with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. No company can legally remove accurate, timely information, and results vary.
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Bolster
Bolster is a free app for keeping an eye on your credit and building credit history over time.
Check the app's terms for any optional paid features.
See Bolster →Credit monitoring and credit builder
Credit Squad
Credit Squad watches your credit and identity and alerts you to changes. Its credit builder, included with every plan, reports your monthly payment to all three credit bureaus as an on-time installment payment.
Paid monthly subscription; see Credit Squad's site for current plans and terms. Credit building depends on on-time payments, and results vary.
See Credit Squad →Common questions
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Nevada?
It depends on the debt. A contract or obligation founded on a written instrument has six years. A contract not in writing, and an open account for goods sold and delivered, have four years.
When does the clock start on a debt in Nevada?
From the last transaction, the last item charged or the last credit given. If you make a payment on principal or interest on an existing debt after it came due, the time runs from that last payment.
Does acknowledging a debt restart the clock in Nevada?
Only in writing. Nevada law says an acknowledgment or new promise isn't enough to take a debt out of the time limits unless it's in a writing signed by the person being charged. A payment can also restart the clock.
How long does a judgment last in Nevada?
Six years. An action on a judgment, or on its renewal, must be brought within six years, and judgments can be renewed.