# Montana statute of limitations on debt

> In Montana, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 6 years under § 27-2-202, MCA. Periods for oral contracts, open accounts and promissory notes.

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

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In Montana, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 6 years under § 27-2-202, MCA.

**Rule.** A written contract claim in Montana must be brought within 6 years.

**Authority.** [§ 27-2-202, MCA](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0020/0270-0020-0020-0020.html)

| Contract type | Limitations period |
| --- | --- |
| Written contract | 6 yr |
| Oral contract | 5 yr |
| Open account | 5 yr |
| Promissory note | — |

## What the statute says

> 27-2-202. Actions based on contract or other obligation. (1) The period prescribed for the commencement of an action on any contract, covenant, obligation, or liability founded on an instrument in writing is within 6 years. (2) The period prescribed for the commencement of an action on a contract, account, or promise not founded on an instrument in writing is within 5 years. (3) The period prescribed for the commencement of an action on an obligation or liability, other than a contract, account, or promise, not founded on an instrument in writing is within 3 years.

— [§ 27-2-202, MCA](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0020/0270-0020-0020-0020.html)

## When does the clock start?

§ 27-2-102(1)(a), MCA: a claim or cause of action accrues "when all elements of the claim or cause exist or have occurred, the right to maintain an action on the claim or cause is complete, and a court or other agency is authorized to accept jurisdiction of the action." Subsection (2) adds that lack of knowledge of the claim or of its accrual does not postpone the beginning of the period.

## What pauses it?

Part 4 of Title 27, chapter 2 collects the circumstances that extend the period. § 27-2-409 (acknowledgment and part payment) was fetched and verified — quoted in the notes. Disability and absence provisions elsewhere in Part 4 were not fetched by either pass and are not characterized here.

Last reviewed 2026-07-26

## Related

- [Idaho statute of limitations](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/idaho/) — Neighbouring jurisdiction — written contract, oral contract, open account and promissory note.
- [North Dakota statute of limitations](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/north-dakota/) — Neighbouring jurisdiction — written contract, oral contract, open account and promissory note.
- [South Dakota statute of limitations](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/south-dakota/) — Neighbouring jurisdiction — written contract, oral contract, open account and promissory note.

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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.