US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

20 U.S.C. § 1091a

Statute of limitations, and State court judgments

(a)

In general

(1)
It is the purpose of this subsection to ensure that obligations to repay loans and grant overpayments are enforced without regard to any Federal or State statutory, regulatory, or administrative limitation on the period within which debts may be enforced.
(2)
Notwithstanding any other provision of statute, regulation, or administrative limitation, no limitation shall terminate the period within which suit may be filed, a judgment may be enforced, or an offset, garnishment, or other action initiated or taken by—
(A)
an institution that receives funds under this subchapter that is seeking to collect a refund due from a student on a grant made, or work assistance awarded, under this subchapter;
(B)
section 1078(c) of this title a guaranty agency that has an agreement with the Secretary under that is seeking the repayment of the amount due from a borrower on a loan made under part B of this subchapter after such guaranty agency reimburses the previous holder of the loan for its loss on account of the default of the borrower;
(C)
an institution that has an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to section 1087c or 1087cc(a) of this title that is seeking the repayment of the amount due from a borrower on a loan made under part D or E of this subchapter after the default of the borrower on such loan; or
(D)
the Secretary, the Attorney General, or the administrative head of another Federal agency, as the case may be, for payment of a refund due from a student on a grant made under this subchapter, or for the repayment of the amount due from a borrower on a loan made under this subchapter that has been assigned to the Secretary under this subchapter.
(b)

Assessment of costs and other charges

Notwithstanding any provision of State law to the contrary—
(1)
a borrower who has defaulted on a loan made under this subchapter shall be required to pay, in addition to other charges specified in this subchapter reasonable collection costs;
(2)
in collecting any obligation arising from a loan made under part B of this subchapter, a guaranty agency or the Secretary shall not be subject to a defense raised by any borrower based on a claim of infancy; and
(3)
section 1087cc(a) of this title in collecting any obligation arising from a loan made under part E, an institution of higher education that has an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to shall not be subject to a defense raised by any borrower based on a claim of infancy.
(c)

State court judgments

A judgment of a State court for the recovery of money provided as grant, loan, or work assistance under this subchapter that has been assigned or transferred to the Secretary under this subchapter may be registered in any district court of the United States by filing a certified copy of the judgment and a copy of the assignment or transfer. A judgment so registered shall have the same force and effect, and may be enforced in the same manner, as a judgment of the district court of the district in which the judgment is registered.

(d)

Special rule

This section shall not apply in the case of a student who is deceased, or to a deceased student’s estate or the estate of such student’s family. If a student is deceased, then the student’s estate or the estate of the student’s family shall not be required to repay any financial assistance under this subchapter, including interest paid on the student’s behalf, collection costs, or other charges specified in this subchapter.

Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 484APub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a)100 Stat. 1482Pub. L. 102–26, § 3(a)105 Stat. 124Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 484112 Stat. 1737Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 486122 Stat. 3290(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 484APub. L. 99–272, title XVI, § 16033100 Stat. 355Pub. L. 99–498A prior section 1091a, , as added , , , related to statute of limitations, collection costs, and defense of infancy, prior to the general revision of this part by .

Pub. L. 89–329, title V, § 502Pub. L. 90–35, § 2(c)81 Stat. 82Pub. L. 91–230, title IV, § 401(h)(4)84 Stat. 174Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 141(c)(1)(A)86 Stat. 285Pub. L. 94–482, title I, § 151(a)(2)90 Stat. 2151Another prior section 1091a, , as added , , ; amended , title VIII, § 802, , , 190; , , , established the National Advisory Council on Education Professions Development and set forth functions, composition, etc., of the Council, prior to repeal by , (b), , , effective .

Amendments

Pub. L. 110–315, § 486(1)2008—Subsec. (b)(3). , added par. (3).

Pub. L. 110–315, § 486(2)Subsec. (d). , added subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 105–244, § 484(1)1998—, inserted “, and State court judgments” after “limitations” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 105–244, § 484(2)Subsec. (c). , added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 102–261991—Subsec. (a). amended subsec. (a) generally, substituting provisions eliminating statute of limitations for student loan collections for provisions establishing six year limitations period for collection of such loans.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–244Pub. L. 105–244section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244section 1001 of this titleAmendment by effective , except as otherwise provided in , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1991 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–26, § 3(c)105 Stat. 125Pub. L. 102–325, title XV, § 1551105 Stat. 838

Public Law 99–272“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall be effective as if enacted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (), and shall apply to any actions pending on or after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1991 [].”
, , , as amended by , , , provided that: