Debt Validation Letter
Make a debt collector prove the debt is yours — and stop collection until they do.
When a collector first contacts you about a debt, federal law gives you 30 days to demand validation. Send that demand in writing and the collector must stop all collection activity until it mails you verification of the debt — 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(b).
Collectors often buy debts in bulk with almost no paperwork. A validation request frequently ends the matter outright, because the collector cannot produce the original agreement or the chain of assignment showing it has the right to collect from you.
Send this letter when
- A collection agency contacted you about a debt you do not recognize.
- The amount a collector claims does not match your records.
- You think the debt belongs to someone else, or is the result of identity theft.
- A collection account appeared on your credit report without notice.
- You want the collector's calls to stop and everything put in writing.
What your letter includes
- A formal § 1692g(b) validation demand that suspends collection
- An itemized list of documents the collector must produce
- Your state's statute of limitations and citation
- A written-communication-only instruction, if you want the calls to stop
- Certified mail proof that you demanded validation inside the 30-day window
Debt validation letters by state
Deadlines, penalties and required notice periods differ by state. Pick yours to get the rules that apply to you.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Federal validation window, state by state
Every figure below links to the full rules for that state, with the statute cited.
| State | Federal validation window | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Ala. Code §§ 6-2-34, 6-2-37 |
| Alaska | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053 |
| Arizona | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; A.R.S. §§ 12-543, 12-548 |
| Arkansas | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Ark. Code §§ 16-56-105, 16-56-111 |
| California | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337 |
| Colorado | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5 |
| Connecticut | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-576, 52-581 |
| Delaware | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; 10 Del. C. § 8106 |
| District of Columbia | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; D.C. Code § 12-301 |
| Florida | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Fla. Stat. § 95.11 |
| Georgia | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; O.C.G.A. §§ 9-3-25, 9-3-24 |
| Hawaii | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1 |
| Idaho | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Idaho Code §§ 5-217, 5-216 |
| Illinois | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; 735 ILCS 5/13-205, 5/13-206 |
| Indiana | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 |
| Iowa | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Iowa Code § 614.1 |
| Kansas | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; K.S.A. §§ 60-512, 60-511 |
| Kentucky | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 413.120, 413.160 |
| Louisiana | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; La. Civ. Code arts. 3494, 3499 |
| Maine | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; 14 M.R.S. § 752 |
| Maryland | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 |
| Massachusetts | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; M.G.L. c. 260 § 2 |
| Michigan | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807 |
| Minnesota | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Minn. Stat. § 541.05 |
| Mississippi | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Miss. Code §§ 15-1-29, 15-1-49 |
| Missouri | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 516.120, 516.110 |
| Montana | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Mont. Code § 27-2-202 |
| Nebraska | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-206, 25-205 |
| Nevada | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190 |
| New Hampshire | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4 |
| New Jersey | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1 |
| New Mexico | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; N.M. Stat. §§ 37-1-4, 37-1-3 |
| New York | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; N.Y. C.P.L.R. §§ 214-i, 213 |
| North Carolina | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 |
| North Dakota | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16 |
| Ohio | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2305.06, 2305.07 |
| Oklahoma | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Okla. Stat. tit. 12 § 95 |
| Oregon | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080 |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525 |
| Rhode Island | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13 |
| South Carolina | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; S.C. Code § 15-3-530 |
| South Dakota | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13 |
| Tennessee | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Tenn. Code § 28-3-109 |
| Texas | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004 |
| Utah | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Utah Code § 78B-2-309 |
| Vermont | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; 12 V.S.A. § 511 |
| Virginia | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Va. Code § 8.01-246 |
| Washington | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Rev. Code Wash. §§ 4.16.080, 4.16.040 |
| West Virginia | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; W. Va. Code § 55-2-6 |
| Wisconsin | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Wis. Stat. § 893.43 |
| Wyoming | 30 days from the collector's first written notice (15 U.S.C. § 1692g) | 15 U.S.C. § 1692g; Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105 |
How it works
- 1
Answer a few questions
Names, addresses, dates and amounts. We assemble the letter and cite the statute that applies in your state.
- 2
Review and edit
Read the finished letter, change any wording you like, and see exactly what will be printed.
- 3
We print and mail it
Your letter is printed, folded, stamped and dropped in the mail — certified, if you want proof of delivery.
Why we recommend certified mail
The 30-day validation window is a deadline you have to be able to prove you met. A certified mail receipt dates your demand and is the evidence in any later FDCPA claim.
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This is not legal advice.
SendPaperMail is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and is not a substitute for an attorney. Our generators assemble a document from the information you enter and mail it for you. The statutes cited on these pages are provided for general information, may have been amended, and may not apply to your situation — city and county ordinances are frequently stricter than state law. If your matter is contested, involves a significant amount of money, or has a filing deadline, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.