Start My Answer

South Dakota Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection

Chloe Meltzer | March 11, 2024

Chloe Meltzer
Legal Expert
Chloe Meltzer, MA

Chloe Meltzer is an experienced content writer specializing in legal content creation. She holds a degree in English Literature from Arizona State University, complemented by a Master’s in Marketing from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Fact-checked by Patrick Austin, J.D.

Patrick Austin
Attorney from George Mason
Patrick Austin, JD

Patrick Austin is a licensed attorney with a background in data privacy and information security law. Patrick received his law degree at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the National Security Law Journal.

Summary: Are you stressed out over an old debt? It might be too late for the creditor to do anything about it. Learn about the statute of limitations and how to beat debt collectors in South Dakota.

Debt is a huge problem for consumers all over the United States. In South Dakota, this is no different. South Dakota consumers can easily fall prey to predatory lenders and debt collectors. This is why it is essential to know your rights in terms of debt collection and the statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations is a law that governs how long both creditors and debt collectors may pursue legal action against you. The statute of limitations varies from state to state but typically ranges anywhere from four to six years. Once the statute of limitations has passed, the debt is considered time-barred, and you can raise the statute of limitations as an affirmative defense against a debt collection lawsuit.

Make the right defense with SoloSuit and win in court.

Statute of Limitations on Debt in South Dakota

Debt Type Deadline
Credit card 6 years
Medical 6 years
Student loan 6 years
Auto loan 6 years
Personal loan 6 years
Mortgage 15 years
Judgment 20 years
Source: S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-6, § 15-2-7, and §15-2-13

To understand if your debt has surpassed the statute of limitations, you will need to learn how old your debt is. If the South Dakota statute of limitations on your debt has passed or is close to expiring, this will impact how you decide to deal with your debt.

If you know that the statute of limitations is close to expiring, don't make a payment on your debt. This is because the statute of limitations starts from when you opened the account, or from the last payment you made on it.

  • Credit card debt: 6 years
  • Medical debt: 6 years
  • Student loan debt: 6 years
  • Auto loan debt: 6 years
  • Personal loan debt: 6 years
  • Mortgage debt:15 years
  • Judgment on a debt: 20 years

If you have received frequent calls from a debt collector regarding a debt where you believe the statute of limitations has passed, remember that you can request this to stop. All you need to do is send a cease and desist letter to the debt collector. By requesting them to stop calling you, they must comply.

After the statute of limitations has expired, if the debt collector files a lawsuit, you can raise the statute of limitations as an affirmative defense. Please keep in mind, even if a debt collection lawsuit is tossed out of court due to the statute of limitations, your debt will not be erased once this time period has passed. Instead, debt collectors may continue to call you and report your delinquency to the credit bureau.

Suing you for debt after the statute of limitations has expired is a direct violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. By understanding the statute of limitations on various types of debt, you can properly defend yourself against debt collectors.

Don't let debt collectors threaten you. Respond with SoloSuit.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects you

The FDCPA governs how third-party debt collectors may pursue you for collections. There are a few rules that debt collectors must adhere to when contacting you for debt. Specifically, debt collectors must adhere to the following.

Debt Collectors May Not Notify Third-Parties of Your Debt

If a debt collector is attempting to contact you for debt, they may not speak to anyone about your debt outside of your attorney or spouse. This means that they may not leave messages in locations where other people may hear information regarding your debt. You should also not be contacted at work if the debt collector is aware that this is against the rules of your workplace.

The only way that a debt collector may contact other people in your life, is to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Debt collectors are also prohibited from contacting third parties more than once.

Debt collectors must validate your debt upon request

If you request verification of your debt, they must provide you with this information. In addition, debt collectors are legally obligated to send you a written “validation notice” disclosing how much money you allegedly owe within five days after the debt collector first contacts you. This debt validation notice must also include the full name of the creditor to whom you allegedly owe the money and what steps you should take if you have reason to believe you do not owe the money.

Stop contacting you after receiving a cease and desist letter: If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you do not owe money, and to stop contact, they must comply. Despite this, a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt.

Debt collectors cannot harass you

If a debt collector oppresses or abuses you, it is a direct violation under the FDCPA. This includes:

  • Using threats of violence or harm
  • Publishing your name and that you owe a debt (aside from providing this information to credit reporting companies
  • Use obscene or profane language when speaking to you
  • Specifically calling you to annoy you
  • Call before 8 am or after 9 pm

Use SoloSuit to respond to debt collection lawsuits in 15 minutes.

Debt Collectors cannot lie to you

Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. This includes:

  • Claiming to be a government employee
  • Claiming to be a lawyer
  • Claiming that you have committed a crime
  • Falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company
  • Lie about how much you owe
  • State that they sent legal forms if they are not, or vice versa

Debt Collectors Are Prohibited From Making False Claims

These might include:

  • Stating you will be arrested if the debt is not paid
  • Stating your assets will be seized, garnished, or sold, unless they are permitted by law to take this action
  • Stating that legal action will be taken against you

Debt Collectors Are Prohibited From Unfair Practices

Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices while attempting to collect a debt. This may include collecting interest or fees that you do not owe, depositing a post-dated check early, or threatening to take your property if they do not have that right.

Should you pay a time-barred debt?

Although the statute of limitations prevents you from going to court for debt, it does not mean that you no longer owe it. For some consumers, choosing not to repay expired debt is the best option.

Time-barred debt will always be considered an account in collections and will remain on your credit report for seven years from the first missed payment. This may continue to follow you in terms of making it difficult to obtain housing or other loans. Although this is a difficult decision to make, you need to make the best decision for you.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to respond to a debt collection lawsuit.

How it works: SoloSuit is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your answer. Upon completion, you can either print the completed forms and mail in the hard copies to the courts or you can pay SoloSuit to file it for you and to have an attorney review the document.

Respond with SoloSuit

"First time getting sued by a debt collector and I was searching all over YouTube and ran across SoloSuit, so I decided to buy their services with their attorney reviewed documentation which cost extra but it was well worth it! SoloSuit sent the documentation to the parties and to the court which saved me time from having to go to court and in a few weeks the case got dismissed!" – James


Get Started


>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit: A Student Solution To Give Utah Debtors A Fighting Chance

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Guides on how to resolve debt with every debt collector

Are you being sued by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Resolve your debt with your creditor

Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.

Settle your medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Guides on arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Stop calls from debt collectors

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Federal debt collection laws can protect you

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Get debt relief in your state

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt collection laws in all 50 states

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt state guides

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote a guide on each state’s statutes. Check it out below.

Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection by State (Best Guide)

Check the status of your court case

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.

How to stop wage garnishment in your state

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.

How to settle a debt in your state

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

How to settle with every debt collector

Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.

Other debt settlement resources

Personal loan and debt relief reviews

We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.

Civil law legal definitions

You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.

Get answers to these FAQs on debt collection

How-to debt guides

Learn more with these additional debt resources