A statute of limitations establishes the maximum time after an event, such as a breach of contract or personal injury, that legal proceedings may be initiated. In California, the statute of limitations for debt is generally four years. This means that a creditor has four years from the date the debt becomes due to file a lawsuit to collect the debt. After four years, the debt is considered time-barred, and the creditor can no longer sue to collect it.
The statute of limitations for debt in California is important because it helps to protect debtors from being harassed by creditors for old debts. It also helps to ensure that creditors do not have an unlimited amount of time to file lawsuits, which can clog up the court system.