Statute of Limitations for Written Contract in Colorado

Overview

Colorado generally gives a 6-year statute of limitations for many claims that are “upon a contract in writing.” The controlling rule is in Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) § 13-80-103(1)(a).

If you’re trying to estimate deadlines for a written-contract dispute—such as unpaid invoices, breach of a service agreement, or failure to deliver under a signed deal—this 6-year period is often the starting point.

At the same time, Colorado law includes categories that can change how the timeline is measured, including (1) how the court characterizes your cause of action and (2) fact-dependent rules about accrual (when the claim starts) and tolling (when time may be paused). Because of that, use the basic rule as a baseline and then confirm whether your specific claim fits.

Limitation period

Colorado’s written-contract limitation period is 6 years.

The general rule (written contract)

Under C.R.S. § 13-80-103(1)(a), actions “upon a contract in writing” must generally be brought within six (6) years.

What “bringing the claim” usually means in practice

Practically, the key date is often when you file the case in court (not when you first noticed the problem). Courts typically analyze whether the claim was timely filed relative to the statutory deadline.

So if you’re working backward from your known timeline—for example, you remember sending a final demand letter on a specific date—DocketMath can help you map the calendar. Still, you should validate what date legally counts as the start of the limitations clock for your particular situation.

The clock starts with “accrual,” not the signing date

The statute doesn’t usually begin running just because there is a signed contract. Instead, it begins when the claim accrues—often meaning when there is a breach and the plaintiff knew or should have known of the breach and resulting harm.

To make this concrete, here are common written-contract scenarios and how accrual often works (examples only):

Because accrual in Colorado is fact-driven, the most important step is identifying the first date the breach is legally treated as having occurred for your claim.

Key exceptions

Even if a dispute involves a written document, not every claim will be treated exactly the same way under the “contract in writing” framework. Other doctrines can also affect the effective deadline.

1) Claims that may not be treated as “upon a contract in writing”

Courts may look beyond labels and characterize the claim based on its substance. For example:

• Mixed situations / non-written components: Even if the parties have a written agreement, a particular portion of the dispute may be treated as not fitting neatly into “upon a contract in writing.”
• Alternative legal theories (restitution, quasi-contract): Requests for money may sometimes be categorized differently than a straightforward “breach of a written contract” claim, which can affect the limitations period.

Practical takeaway: before you rely on the 6-year written-contract number, make sure the cause of action you’re asserting aligns with how Colorado courts would likely categorize it.

2) Contract terms can affect timing and accrual (even if they don’t automatically change the statute)

Many written contracts include provisions such as:

• notice requirements,
• cure periods,
• internal dispute processes or procedures.

These provisions don’t always override statutory deadlines by themselves, but they can influence when the breach is treated as occurring (and therefore when the claim accrues). For example, if nonpayment triggers a notice-and-cure step before a breach is legally effective, the accrual date may shift to reflect that structure.

3) Tolling and other procedural impacts

Colorado recognizes doctrines that can pause or otherwise affect limitations timing in certain circumstances. In some settings, tolling may apply due to specific conditions that delay when a claimant can sue.

Because tolling turns heavily on facts, this is a high-risk area for “guessing” the deadline—especially if you’re near the end of the limitations period.

Statute citation

• C.R.S. § 13-80-103(1)(a) — Six (6) years for actions “upon a contract in writing.”

That is the core statutory citation for the Colorado written-contract statute of limitations.

If you’re evaluating multiple claim types, it can also be helpful to compare how Colorado categorizes those claims, because a dispute may be litigated under a different cause-of-action classification than you expect based on business labeling alone.

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator turns the 6-year written-contract rule into an actionable latest filing date using your dates.

Inputs to use (and how changes affect the output)

1. Jurisdiction: choose Colorado (US-CO).

2. Accrual date (recommended input):

   • Enter the date you believe the claim accrued (often tied to the first legally actionable breach).
   • How it changes results: moving the accrual date later typically moves the “latest filing date” later by the same general amount of time.

3. Reference dates (optional, if your workflow uses them):

   • invoice due date / delivery deadline / refusal date—use whichever corresponds to the first actionable breach for your claim theory.
   • How it changes results: entering a later date than the true breach/accrual can make the deadline look later than it really is.

What DocketMath calculates

Using Colorado’s 6-year limitation period under C.R.S. § 13-80-103(1)(a), the calculator provides:

• a latest filing date under the general written-contract rule, and
• (depending on the tool view) a sense of how much time remains relative to today.

Quick example

If you identify the breach as occurring on January 15, 2020, the general 6-year deadline under C.R.S. § 13-80-103(1)(a) would fall on January 15, 2026—subject to fact-specific accrual and any tolling issues.

Primary CTA: Use the statute of limitations calculator

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Colorado and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator