Louisiana
In Louisiana, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 10 years under La. Civ. Code arts. 3494, 3495, 3498, 3499.
Rule
A written contract claim in Louisiana must be brought within 10 years.
- Written contract
- 10 yr
- Oral contract
- 10 yr
- Open account
- 3 yr
- Promissory note
- 5 yr
What the statute says
The following actions are subject to a liberative prescription of three years: (1) An action for the recovery of compensation for services rendered, including payment of salaries, wages, commissions, professional fees, fees and emoluments of public officials, freight, passage, money, lodging, and board; (2) An action for arrearages of rent and annuities; (3) An action on money lent; (4) An action on an open account
When does the clock start?
For the three-year categories, La. Civ. Code art. 3495 (read at https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110519) provides: "This prescription commences to run from the day payment is exigible. It accrues as to past due payments even if there is a continuation of labor, supplies, or other services." Art. 3498 likewise runs from the day payment is exigible on instruments and promissory notes.
What pauses it?
Louisiana speaks of interruption and suspension, not tolling. Prescription is interrupted by filing suit in a court of competent jurisdiction and venue (art. 3462, https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110485, amended by Acts 2025, No. 250) and by acknowledgment (art. 3464). Art. 3466 (https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110489): "If prescription is interrupted, the time that has run is not counted. Prescription commences to run anew from the last day of interruption."
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.