State Guides

State guides

Federal law sets the floor — the FCRA, FDCPA, and Bankruptcy Code apply everywhere. But the details that decide real cases are state-level: statutes of limitations, lawsuit response deadlines, garnishment limits, and property exemptions.

More states are coming — carefully

We publish individual state guides only when they contain genuinely useful, sourced, state-specific information: court links, exemption overviews, limitation periods, and legal aid contacts. If your state isn’t here yet, the process below gets you authoritative answers today.

What actually varies by state

Statute of limitations on debt lawsuits — commonly about 3–6 years, but ranges wider; also what restarts the clock. Background: our plain-English guide.
Lawsuit response deadlines — often 14–35 days from service; printed on your summons.
Wage garnishment limits — states can protect more than the federal cap; a few bar consumer-debt garnishment.
Exempt property — what you keep in bankruptcy or from judgment collection; some states let filers choose federal exemptions.
State collection and medical-debt laws — several states go beyond the FDCPA and restrict medical-debt reporting.

How to find your state’s rules (30 minutes, official sources)

Your state attorney general’s consumer protection office
Search “[your state] attorney general consumer protection.” AG sites explain state collection law in plain language and take complaints.
Your state courts’ self-help center
Search “[your state] courts self help debt.” Most state judiciaries publish response deadlines, answer forms, fee waivers, and garnishment exemption forms.
Your state’s legal aid organization
Find yours through the Legal Services Corporation directory. Legal aid sites host excellent state-specific debt guides — and free help if you qualify.
Your federal bankruptcy district
Find your district via the U.S. Courts federal court finder. District sites list local forms, fee-waiver procedure, and pro se resources.
Your state bar’s lawyer referral service
Via the ABA’s free legal help directory— many referrals include a low-cost first consultation.

Be careful with unofficial state-law tables

Blog tables of “statutes of limitations by state” are frequently outdated or wrong about what restarts the clock. For anything with a deadline, verify against your state courts, AG, or legal aid — or ask an attorney. Laws change; official sources move with them.

Educational information — not advice

This topic involves court deadlines and rights you can permanently lose.

This page provides general educational information about credit, debt, and consumer protections. It is not legal advice, financial advice, or credit repair services, and reading it does not create any professional relationship. Laws, procedures, deadlines, and dollar amounts vary by state and change over time.

Before acting or deciding not to act, strongly consider consulting a licensed attorney in your state. If cost is a concern, legal aid organizations may help for free. See our full disclaimer.