California
In California, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 4 years under Code Civ. Proc., §§ 337, 339.
Rule
A written contract claim in California must be brought within 4 years.
- Written contract
- 4 yr
- Oral contract
- 2 yr
- Open account
- 4 yr
- Promissory note
- 6 yr
What the statute says
(b) An action to recover (1) upon a book account whether consisting of one or more entries; (2) upon an account stated based upon an account in writing, but the acknowledgment of the account stated need not be in writing; (3) a balance due upon a mutual, open and current account, the items of which are in writing
When does the clock start?
From breach; on an account stated based on more than one item, and on a book account, the time begins to run from the date of the last item.
What pauses it?
Code Civ. Proc., § 351 excludes the defendant's time out of state; § 352 excludes minority or lack of legal capacity at accrual.
Last reviewed 2026-07-26
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.