Connecticut law is quite clear on how long a debt collector may pursue a debt against you. It takes 6 years for debts to die in Connecticut, or longer if you extend the statute of limitations.
| Oral Contract | 3 years |
| Written Contract | 6 years |
| Promissory Note | 6 years |
| Open Accounts | 6 years |
This essentially sets a timeline where you are liable for your debts. The timeline begins with the beginning of your delinquency. This is referred to as the date of first delinquency, and it is the date where the clock begins to tick.
Your creditor has 6 years beyond the date of first delinquency in which they could still take you to court to force repayment. While creditors may pursue a judgment against you after 6 years, it is rare since all you would have to do is show up and state that the statute of limitations on the debt has expired. Still, some unscrupulous debt collectors will attempt it anyways knowing that a high percentage of debtors never go to court to mount a defense.
Connecticut courts recognize that residents are expected to repay their old debts so long as it is within 6 years since they fell delinquent on the debt. Debt collectors may take you to court within this period to force repayment. If they obtain a judgment, then you are thereby ordered by the court to repay the debt. Repayment may be in a lump sum, or through a series of installments that are made until the balance is zero. If you fail to comply with the court order, then you could face garnishments of 25% of your pay.
Assuming that no payments are made on your debts, the statute of limitations on your debt would expire at 6 years and you could reasonably tell any threatening debt collectors to leave you alone. However, if you make a payment or possibly even just acknowledge owing the debt, the statute of limitations may reset. That would allow debt collectors a full 6 years from your last payment to pursue legal action against you. For this reason, lump sum payments for a full payoff or settlement are generally preferred to payment plans. Still, if a payment plan is all you are able to do, it can at least keep the collector pacified so that they do not pursue legal action against you.
As long as you incurred the debt in Connecticut, defaulted in Connecticut and still live in Connecticut, then the statute of limitations is 6 years on all debts, with the exception of oral agreements (3 years). If you were are are currently a resident of a state other than Connecticut, then the court may decide which state’s statute of limitations would be most applicable for your case. This could work for or against you, depending on whether the statute of limitations in your other state(s) of residence are shorter or longer than 6 years.
Long is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Industrial Relations. He subsequently received his Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. His Certificate in Financial Planning was issued by Florida State University.
Long has achieved the Accredited Credit Counselor and Accredited Financial Counselor certifications through the Association for Financial Counseling, Planning and Education. Long originally achieved the Certified Credit Counselor designation through the National Institute for Financial Education.
In addition to years of nonprofit leadership, Long has been an innovator in the field of volunteer tax return preparation programs. He assists volunteer associations and nonprofit organizations who seek to integrate credit counseling and asset-building programs with free personal income tax preparation. His approach to using free credit reports as both an incentive and a screening tool for placement into asset-building programs has been shared with members of the National Community Tax Coalition, the EITC-Carolinas Initiative of MDC, Inc. and nonprofit groups across the Carolinas.
Long assists members of our armed forces in the Carolinas, Iowa, Rhode Island, Georgia and Germany with financial readiness. Please support our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors!
Favorite quote:
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
Thomas Jefferson
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