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California

In California, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 4 years under Code Civ. Proc., §§ 337, 339.

Written contract

4 yr

Oral contract

2 yr

Open account

4 yr

Promissory note

6 yr

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.