Florida Statute 95.11 governs when a creditor can present an action to recover.  In general a creditor has 5 years to present their claim (some types of debts have different statute of limitations).  The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act prohibits collectors from taking action to collect a debt they cannot legally take.   Some actions you may take such as making a payment on an old debt may pause or toll the statute of limitations so it is important to consult with an attorney and carefully review any debt for which a creditor is attempting to collect.