Written & Oral Agreement Expiration Chart
A state-by-state reference of the statute of limitations (in years) for enforcing written and oral agreements. The Written column reflects the limitation period for written contracts; the Oral column reflects the period for oral (verbal) contracts.
| State / Jurisdiction | Written (yrs) | Oral (yrs) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Alaska | 3 | 3 | Period is the same for both. |
| Arizona | 6 | 3 | Oral contracts are subject to a 3-year limit. |
| Arkansas | 5 | 3 | Oral contracts are subject to a 3-year limit. |
| California | 4 | 2 | Oral contracts are subject to a 2-year limit. |
| Colorado | 6 | 3 | General contract limit; specific debts may vary. |
| Connecticut | 6 | 3 | Oral contracts are subject to a 3-year limit. |
| Delaware | 3 | 3 | Period is the same for both. |
| District of Columbia | 3 | 3 | Period is the same for both. |
| Florida | 5 | 4 | Oral contracts are subject to a 4-year limit. |
| Georgia | 6 | 4 | Oral contracts are subject to a 4-year limit. |
| Hawaii | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Idaho | 5 | 4 | Oral contracts are subject to a 4-year limit. |
| Illinois | 10 | 5 | Oral contracts are subject to a 5-year limit. |
| Indiana | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Iowa | 10 | 5 | Oral contracts are subject to a 5-year limit. |
| Kansas | 5 | 3 | Oral contracts are subject to a 3-year limit. |
| Kentucky | 10 | 5 | Written contracts under seal may have longer periods. |
| Louisiana | 10 | 10 | General contract limit; varies by specific type. |
| Maine | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Maryland | 3 | 3 | Period is the same for both. |
| Massachusetts | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Michigan | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Minnesota | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Mississippi | 3 | 3 | Period is the same for both. |
| Missouri | 10 | 5 | Oral contracts are subject to a 5-year limit. |
| Montana | 8 | 5 | Oral contracts are subject to a 5-year limit. |
| Nebraska | 5 | 4 | Oral contracts are subject to a 4-year limit. |
| Nevada | 6 | 4 | Oral contracts are subject to a 4-year limit. |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 3 | Period is the same for both. |
| New Jersey | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| New Mexico | 6 | 4 | Oral contracts are subject to a 4-year limit. |
| New York | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| North Carolina | 3 | 3 | Period is the same for both. |
| North Dakota | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Ohio | 8 | 6 | Oral contracts are subject to a 6-year limit. |
| Oklahoma | 5 | 3 | Oral contracts are subject to a 3-year limit. |
| Oregon | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 4 | Period is the same for both. |
| Rhode Island | 10 | 10 | Period is the same for both. |
| South Carolina | 3 | 3 | Period is the same for both. |
| South Dakota | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Tennessee | 6 | 6 | Period is the same for both. |
| Texas | 4 | 4 | General contract statute applies. |
| Utah | 6 | 4 | Statutory distinction between written and oral. |
| Vermont | 6 | 6 | General contract statute applies. |
| Virginia | 5 | 3 | Statutory distinction between written and oral. |
| Washington | 6 | 3 | Statutory distinction between written and oral. |
| West Virginia | 10 | 5 | Statutory distinction between written and oral. |
| Wisconsin | 6 | 6 | General contract statute applies. |
| Wyoming | 10 | 8 | Statutory distinction between written and oral. |
Disclaimer: This chart is provided for educational purposes within The New Griot training program and is not legal advice. Statutes of limitations are subject to change, tolling, and exceptions (such as partial payments, new written promises, or agreements under seal). Always consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction for guidance on a specific matter. Data reflects statutes in effect as of 2025–2026.