NJ · medical-debt statute of limitations
New Jersey
Written contract
6 yr
Open account / oral
6 yr
Most common for medical
6 yr
Open-account period
How medical debt is treated in New Jersey
New Jersey applies a 6-year limit to contract actions, including medical bills (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1).
Last checked June 16, 2026.
Can the clock restart?
A payment can revive the debt in New Jersey; a verbal acknowledgment does not (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-24). This rests partly on case law.
Medical-debt credit reporting in New Jersey
New Jersey's Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act restricts medical-debt credit reporting (reporting provisions effective July 22, 2024). Enforceability is subject to the federal-preemption dispute.
Estimate the window for your New Jersey debt
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Treat all content as general information, not legal advice.
New Jersey medical-debt questions
Note on credit reporting: The CFPB finalized a rule in January 2025 to remove most medical bills from consumer credit reports, but it was VACATED on July 11, 2025 by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Cornerstone Credit Union League v. CFPB) and is NOT in effect as of 2026. The court also held that the federal FCRA preempts similar state laws. Do not assume medical bills are barred from credit reports under federal law — confirm the current status on consumerfinance.gov. CFPB.