⏳ When does a debt I have not paid become time-barred?

With conditions

Quick answer

It depends on the type of claim — most claims lapse after four years, but debt instruments and money loans after ten. Under Act no. 150/2007 on the limitation of claims the general limitation period is four years (Art. 3): this covers ordinary invoices, credit-card debt, unpaid rent and most claims. Claims under a debt instrument and claims based on a money loan lapse after ten years (Art. 5). The period runs from the day the creditor could first demand payment. The myth that costs people dearly: that a debt simply vanishes when the period runs out. It is not that simple — limitation can be interrupted, and it starts afresh if you acknowledge the debt (for instance by paying an instalment) or if the creditor brings a lawsuit. And if they obtain a judgment a new ten-year period begins.

📋 The rules

The general limitation period is four years and covers most claims — invoices, service debts, credit cards, unpaid rent and damages (Art. 3 of Act no. 150/2007).
Claims under a debt instrument and claims based on a money loan lapse after ten years (Art. 5); the same applies to electronically registered securities.
The period runs from the day the creditor could first demand performance — usually the due date of the claim (Art. 2).
Interest and indexation lapse after four years even where the principal is a debt instrument with a ten-year period.
Damages claims lapse four years from when the injured party knew of the loss and who was liable; claims for personal injury after ten years (Art. 9).

🔓 Exceptions

Limitation is interrupted if the debtor acknowledges the debt — including by an instalment, a promise or a written acknowledgment — and a fresh period then runs from the acknowledgment.
If the creditor sues or obtains a judgment a new ten-year period begins from the judgment or settlement (Art. 21) — the claim is then far from extinguished.
Ignorance of the claim can extend the period, but never by more than ten years beyond when the claim would otherwise have lapsed (Art. 11).

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Limitation is a double-edged sword and the consequences of misunderstanding it can be costly for both sides. For the debtor the danger is to assume a debt is time-barred when it is not: a single instalment or written acknowledgment restarts the clock, and collectors often seek exactly such an acknowledgment to prolong the life of the claim. For the creditor the danger is to fall asleep at the wheel — let four years pass without interrupting limitation and the claim is lost in full, principal included, and a court will declare it dead if it is raised. The hidden cost also lies in interest and indexation, which lapse after four years even where the principal lives longer, so part of the claim can fall away while another part stands. In every case collection costs, penalty interest and legal costs pile up if the matter goes to court — and a time-barred claim cannot be revived.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Does a debt automatically lapse after four years?

Not quite — although the general limitation period is four years, it does not run out if limitation is interrupted during that time. If you acknowledge the debt or the creditor sues, the period starts afresh, so a debt can in practice live much longer than four years.

Is there a difference between an ordinary invoice and a debt instrument?

Yes, an ordinary invoice or service debt lapses after four years, but a claim under a debt instrument or money loan lapses after ten years. That is why the form matters: the same debt can have a four-year or ten-year period depending on whether a debt instrument lies behind it.

Does the period restart if I pay part of the debt?

Yes, paying an instalment counts as acknowledging the debt and interrupts limitation, so a new period begins from the payment. This is why people should think carefully before paying into an old, possibly time-barred claim.

What happens if the claim is decided in court?

When a claim is awarded by a court or settled in court, a new ten-year limitation period begins from that day. A judgment therefore extends the life of the claim considerably, and the creditor can keep collecting it for a further decade.

Can I refuse to pay a debt that is time-barred?

Yes, if a claim is genuinely time-barred the duty to pay falls away and you can plead limitation if you are sued. The key is not to have interrupted limitation yourself, for example by an instalment or acknowledgment, because then the claim does not count as time-barred.

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