Old Debts And Time Limits
Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, § 5-102 and § 5-1202 — three years, twelve for specialties, and no revival
Three years. A civil action at law in Maryland has to be filed within three years from the day it accrues, unless another provision of the Code sets a different period.
An action on a specialty, such as a judgment, a bond, or a note or contract under seal, has 12 years from accrual, or 12 years from the death of the last to die of the principal debtor or creditor, whichever is sooner. A payment on a specialty suspends the period for three years after the payment.
A payment does not revive it. A creditor or collector may not start a consumer debt collection action after the limitations period has run, and once it has run, a payment, an acknowledgment in writing or aloud, or any other activity on the debt does not revive or extend it.
Sources for this section (3)
- Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 — Three year limitation on civil actions
- Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-102 — Twelve year limitation on specialties
- Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-1202 — Time barred consumer debt
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.