Does Your Debt Disappear After 7 Years?
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Though it's a common myth, your debt doesn't disppear after seven years of nonpayment. Most debts drop off of your credit report after seven years, but in many cases, you'll still be on the hook to repay the debt.
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated October 22, 2025
Does Debt Really Disappear After Seven Years?
No. Most debts fall off your credit report after seven years of nonpayment. This can be helpful since negative credit report entries can hurt your credit score.
But typically, people remain liable for debts in their name even if those debts don't appear on their credit report. This means debt collectors may still call you, send notices, or even try to sue you to collect on the debt.
Though you typically remain liable for debts until they're paid or discharged in bankruptcy, the debt collector may have fewer options to collect the debt after the statute of limitations runs out.
What Is the Statue of Limitations?
The statute of limitations is a law that limits how long a creditor or debt collector can take legal action to collect a debt. Each state sets its own time limits, usually 3–10 years. Time limits not only vary by state, but also by the type of debt or debt contract you have.
After this period ends, the debt is considered “time-barred,” meaning a collector can still ask you to pay, but they aren't supposed to sue you to force payment.
That said, many debt collectors do still sue even when a debt is time-barred. Most people use the statute of limitations as a defense if a creditor files a lawsuit after the time limit has passed.
In some cases, the clock on the statute of limitations can pause or restart. For example, if you start making payments or even promise to pay a debt after a long time, the time limit may reset, depending on your state’s laws.
What if an Old Debt Doesn't Fall Off Your Credit Report?
If you see inaccurate information on your credit report, you have a right to dispute it and have it removed.
Upsolve has a free credit dispute letter template you can use. It's important to check your credit report from all three of the major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Make sure each agency is correctly reporting your personal information and information on any accounts that are listed.
You can run your credit report for free weekly from AnnualCreditReport.com.
How To Get Rid of Older Debts
If you're being pursued for old debts, you have a few options.
First, it's a good idea to validate the debt to make sure it's yours. You can also research the statute of limitations for that debt, to see if you might be at risk of a debt lawsuit.
If you've validated the account and believe the debt is still timely, you can try to negotiate a debt settlement with the creditor. Settling a debt allows you to pay less than the total amount you owe, and it allows the debt collector to close the account and stop spending money trying to get you to pay.
If you don't believe the debt is yours, you can dispute it with the debt collector.
If you have a lot of older debts and you don't have a way to repay them, you can also consider filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
If you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you may be able to erase many unsecured debts—like credit card balances, payday loans, and medical bills — in about 3–4 months. This is often a good option if you don’t have many assets (like a home or expensive car) and can’t afford to make monthly payments.
Bankruptcy can give you a fresh start, so you don’t have to keep dealing with debt collectors or worry about bills from years ago.
Upsolve can help you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy without a lawyer. It only take two minutes to see if you're eligible to use our free filing tool.
