Q: Am I liable for a loan written off in 2020 now being sued by collection in 2025?

A: If Missouri law governs and the last payment was within 10 years, then the lawsuit is likely within the statute of limitations depending on which cause of action has been pleaded. The charge-off doesn't save you.

Mo. Rev. Stat. 516.110. What action shall be commenced within ten years. — Within ten years:

  (1) An action upon any writing, whether sealed or unsealed, for the payment of money or property;

A: You’ve already been through a lot, and it’s completely understandable to feel overwhelmed getting hit with a lawsuit years after the debt was written off. Just because a lender writes off a loan doesn’t mean the debt disappears—it often means they’ve sold it to a collection agency, who can still try to collect. But whether they can **legally sue you now** depends on the **statute of limitations** for debt collection in your state, which typically ranges from 3 to 6 years.

You mentioned the debt was written off in 2020, and if no payments or acknowledgments of the debt have been made since then, the clock for the statute of limitations may have started around that time. If the lawsuit is filed **after** the limit expired, you can raise that as a defense and possibly have the case dismissed. However, you’ll need to **respond to the court papers**—ignoring them could result in a default judgment against you, even if the claim is too old to enforce.

You should also contact the original lender to verify whether the debt was sold and to whom. Keep all your documentation about the write-off, and consider filing a written request for debt validation with the collection agency. You’re not powerless here—time and records may be on your side. Take a deep breath and respond carefully. You’ve already come through so much.