Unpaid invoice deadline checker

How this estimate works

A statute of limitations is the time limit for filing a lawsuit. For an unpaid invoice, the limit depends on your state and on whether the agreement was written or oral. This tool looks up the general statutory period for both and adds it to the accrual date you enter.

Which date should I enter?

Enter the date you assume the claim accrued. That is often the invoice due date, or the date payment was missed, rather than the date the invoice was issued. Courts can differ, and your contract may set its own accrual rule.

Choice of law and accrual uncertainty

Your contract may choose another state's law, and a court may apply a different state's limitation period than the one you select. Partial payments, written acknowledgments of the debt, disputes, and tolling rules may also change when time starts or stops. This estimate cannot account for those facts.

Assumptions used

• The deadline is the same month and day the stated number of calendar years later, not years multiplied by 365 days.
• A February 29 accrual date is normalized to March 1 in a non-leap target year.
• The calendar-year estimate is calculated at local midnight in your browser's time zone.
• The state table covers general contract periods and may omit special rules, such as sealed contracts or sales of goods.
• No extensions for weekends, court holidays, tolling, payments, or acknowledgments are applied.

The terms of your contract may override these statutory defaults. Many agreements shorten the time to sue, set a different accrual date, or choose another state's law — check the contract before relying on these figures.

What the result does and does not mean

A passed date is an elapsed-time estimate, not a determination that your rights have expired or permission to continue collection activity. Rules differ for open accounts, sales of goods, consumer debts, sealed contracts, judgments, and older agreements. This page is general information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney and check current law before relying on any date.