# Louisiana statute of limitations on debt

> In Louisiana, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 10 years under La. Civ. Code arts. 3494, 3495, 3498, 3499. Periods for oral contracts, open accounts and promissory notes.

- Source: https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/louisiana/
- Publisher: Otto — https://ottoforfirms.com
- Updated: 2026-09-01

[All jurisdictions](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/)

In Louisiana, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 10 years under La. Civ. Code arts. 3494, 3495, 3498, 3499.

**Rule.** A written contract claim in Louisiana must be brought within 10 years.

**Authority.** [La. Civ. Code arts. 3494, 3495, 3498, 3499](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110518)

| Contract type | Limitations period |
| --- | --- |
| Written contract | 10 yr |
| Oral contract | 10 yr |
| Open account | 3 yr |
| Promissory note | 5 yr |

## What the statute says

> The following actions are subject to a liberative prescription of three years: (1) An action for the recovery of compensation for services rendered, including payment of salaries, wages, commissions, professional fees, fees and emoluments of public officials, freight, passage, money, lodging, and board; (2) An action for arrearages of rent and annuities; (3) An action on money lent; (4) An action on an open account

— [La. Civ. Code arts. 3494, 3495, 3498, 3499](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110518)

## When does the clock start?

For the three-year categories, La. Civ. Code art. 3495 (read at https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110519) provides: "This prescription commences to run from the day payment is exigible. It accrues as to past due payments even if there is a continuation of labor, supplies, or other services." Art. 3498 likewise runs from the day payment is exigible on instruments and promissory notes.

## What pauses it?

Louisiana speaks of interruption and suspension, not tolling. Prescription is interrupted by filing suit in a court of competent jurisdiction and venue (art. 3462, https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110485, amended by Acts 2025, No. 250) and by acknowledgment (art. 3464). Art. 3466 (https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110489): "If prescription is interrupted, the time that has run is not counted. Prescription commences to run anew from the last day of interruption."

Last reviewed 2026-07-26

## Related

- [Arkansas statute of limitations](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/arkansas/) — Neighbouring jurisdiction — written contract, oral contract, open account and promissory note.
- [Mississippi statute of limitations](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/mississippi/) — Neighbouring jurisdiction — written contract, oral contract, open account and promissory note.
- [Texas statute of limitations](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/texas/) — Neighbouring jurisdiction — written contract, oral contract, open account and promissory note.

## About Otto

This table is a free reference and it is not the product. Otto is case management for US collections law firms; the rules engine ships all fifty states configured — four shown in end-to-end depth in the demo — and it checks a date like this one before a file moves rather than after.

- [Ask about your jurisdictions](https://ottoforfirms.com/contact/)
- [See what it costs](https://ottoforfirms.com/pricing/)

---

This is an informational reference, not legal advice, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. Limitations periods turn on facts this page cannot know — which state's law governs, the contract type, when the claim accrued, and whether anything tolled or revived it. Confirm against the primary source and your own counsel before acting.