How a limitations period restarts
A limitations clock does not always run straight through. In most states a partial payment or a signed written acknowledgment of a debt starts the period over, and tolling doctrines pause it while the defendant is absent, while the plaintiff is a minor, or while a fraud remains undiscovered. Enter the date of that event and the period that applies, and this tool gives the new start date, the new expiry date and the time left.
Because limitations rules are state law, the length depends on the claim and the forum. California allows four years for a written contract under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §337 and two years for an oral one under §339, while New York allows six years for contract claims under CPLR §213. Whether a payment or acknowledgment truly restarts the clock, and what writing is required, also varies by state, and some consumer debt statutes bar revival of an expired debt entirely. The examples given are as of September 2026. The new period is counted from the day after the event, so the expiry date falls on the same calendar day in the later year.
Missing a limitations deadline usually ends a claim permanently, so treat any estimate as a planning aid rather than a filing date. This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
Not everywhere. Many states treat it as an acknowledgment that revives the debt, but several require a signed writing and some forbid reviving a debt that has already expired.
No. Tolling pauses the clock and then resumes it where it stopped, while a restart wipes out the elapsed time and begins the full period again.