How long do I have to sue on a promissory note in Manitoba?

2 years from the day the claim is discovered, and no more than 15 years; for a demand note the 15 years run from the default after a demand.

Can I collect a promissory note in Manitoba small claims?

Yes, for amounts up to 20,000 dollars.

Manitoba Promissory Note Rules: Interest and Time to Sue

Manitoba promissory note requirements

Your Manitoba promissory note has 8 rules to meet. ReportDraft puts every one on your checklist and checks your draft before you sign.

2 years to sue from discovery, 15 years at most
Small claims up to 20,000 dollars since 2025
The 15 years on a demand loan counted from the default (s. 11)

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A Manitoba promissory note follows the federal rules on this page. Manitoba's Limitations Act gives 2 years from discovery to sue on it, and its 15-year outer limit runs, for a demand note, from the default after the demand. Small claims take notes up to 20,000 dollars. Here is each provincial rule.

Last reviewed November 3, 2026 against the official sources listed below.

Payment	Date	Amount	Interest	Principal	Balance
1	December 1, 2026	$1,010.02	$15.00	$995.02	$2,004.98
2	January 1, 2027	$1,010.02	$10.02	$1,000.00	$1,004.98
3	February 1, 2027	$1,010.00	$5.02	$1,004.98	$0.00
Totals		$3,030.04	$30.04	$3,000.00

Payment

Date

Amount

Interest

Principal

Balance

December 1, 2026

$1,010.02

$15.00

$995.02

$2,004.98

January 1, 2027

$1,010.02

$10.02

$1,000.00

$1,004.98

February 1, 2027

$1,010.00

$5.02

$1,004.98

$0.00

Totals

$3,030.04

$30.04

$3,000.00

What	Result	Rule
Yearly rate stated on the note	6% a year (effective 6.17% with monthly compounding): a rate stated only by the month or week would be capped at 5% a year	Interest Act s. 4
Criminal interest rate	Under the limit of 35% a year (6.17%), counting all fees and charges as interest	Criminal Code s. 347
Last day to sue if the final payment is missed	February 2, 2029 (2 years from the day after the final payment on February 1, 2027); each earlier missed payment runs from its own date	The Limitations Act (Man.) s. 6, 7
A part payment or a signed written acknowledgement	Under the The Limitations Act, starts the period again from that day if made before it runs out	The Limitations Act (Man.) s. 20 (1) to (3)
Where to file for this amount	Court of King's Bench small claims: claims up to $20,000, not counting interest and costs	Court of King's Bench Small Claims Practices Act s. 3 (1); M.R. 283/2014 s. 1.2

What

Result

Rule

Yearly rate stated on the note

6% a year (effective 6.17% with monthly compounding): a rate stated only by the month or week would be capped at 5% a year

Interest Act s. 4

Criminal interest rate

Under the limit of 35% a year (6.17%), counting all fees and charges as interest

Criminal Code s. 347

Last day to sue if the final payment is missed

February 2, 2029 (2 years from the day after the final payment on February 1, 2027); each earlier missed payment runs from its own date

The Limitations Act (Man.) s. 6, 7

A part payment or a signed written acknowledgement

Under the The Limitations Act, starts the period again from that day if made before it runs out

The Limitations Act (Man.) s. 20 (1) to (3)

Where to file for this amount

Court of King's Bench small claims: claims up to $20,000, not counting interest and costs

Court of King's Bench Small Claims Practices Act s. 3 (1); M.R. 283/2014 s. 1.2

What Manitoba requires

A proceeding on a claim must not be started more than two years after the day the claim is discovered: the day the claimant first knew or ought to have known of the loss, its cause, who caused it and that a proceeding would be appropriateThe Limitations Act, s. 6 and 7
A claim for money of up to 20,000 dollars, including general damages of up to 2,000 dollars, may be filed under the small claims procedure of the Court of King's BenchThe Court of King's Bench Small Claims Practices Act, s. 3 (1) · Court of King's Bench Small Claims Practices Regulation, s. 1.2
For the 15-year period, a default in performing a demand obligation takes place on the day the default occurs, once a demand for performance is madeThe Limitations Act, s. 11 (1) (e)
Even if the basic period has not expired, a proceeding must not be started more than 15 years after the day the act or omission the claim is based on took placeThe Limitations Act, s. 10 (1)
An acknowledgement of the liability, made in writing and signed before the limitation period expires, starts the period afresh; for a debt, a part payment has the same effect, even without a promise to pay the restThe Limitations Act, s. 20 (1) to (4)

Time to sue

Two years from the day you knew or ought to have known the note was not paid. The outer limit is 15 years; for a demand obligation it runs from the default after a demand.

Payments and acknowledgements

A part payment of the debt, or a signed written acknowledgement, starts the period afresh.

Small claims

Claims up to 20,000 dollars use the Court of King's Bench small claims procedure.

Common mistakes

Using the 15,000 dollar small claims figure printed in the Act.
Stating only a monthly rate.
Taking an unsigned acknowledgement.

Sources

The Limitations Act, s. 6 and 7, checked November 3, 2026
The Court of King's Bench Small Claims Practices Act, s. 3 (1), checked November 3, 2026
Court of King's Bench Small Claims Practices Regulation, s. 1.2, checked November 3, 2026
The Limitations Act, s. 11 (1) (e), checked November 3, 2026
The Limitations Act, s. 10 (1), checked November 3, 2026
The Limitations Act, s. 20 (1) to (4), checked November 3, 2026

Last reviewed November 3, 2026. Next review due February 3, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.