ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Breach of Contract Debts | Haskell & Dyer
They Signed It. They Did Not Pay. Let's Enforce It.
When a signed agreement set the terms and the other side did not honor them, the contract is your strongest tool. We use it to pursue the full amount you are owed.
Deadlines Are Real
Maryland limits how long you have to sue.
A contract claim does not last forever. Maryland sets time limits on suing to collect a debt, and they vary by the type of debt and document. Once that window closes, even a clear breach can become unenforceable in court. The right to collect has an expiration date, and the clock is already running.
Why the Contract Matters
A Written Agreement Changes the Conversation
When the terms are in writing, the argument shifts from what was promised to whether they kept their word.
Your Strongest Tool
The Terms Are in Writing
A signed contract spells out what each side agreed to: the work, the price, and the payment terms. When the other side defaults, you are not arguing over a vague understanding. You are enforcing a document they signed. That is a strong place to start.
What We Pursue
The Full Amount Owed
A breach of contract claim can reach more than the unpaid balance. Depending on the agreement, it may include interest, late fees, and the costs of collection that the contract itself provides for. We read your agreement closely and pursue everything it entitles you to.
By the Numbers
Late Payment Is a Business Epidemic
A broken payment promise is not unusual. It is one of the most common and costly problems businesses face.
1 in 2
invoices in Europe is paid late or not at all
European Commission
~25%
of business bankruptcies linked to late payment
European Commission
~43 days
the average wait to get paid on a B2B invoice
2025 B2B payment reporting
What We Pursue
The Contract Debts We Handle
If a signed agreement set the terms and they were not met, we can likely pursue it.
Written contracts
Payment terms
Defaults
Service agreements
Supply and vendor contracts
Interest and collection costs
Attorney Insight
A signed contract is the best friend a creditor has. When the terms are in writing, we're not arguing about what was promised. We're enforcing it. That changes the whole conversation, and usually the outcome.
Matthew J. Dyer, Esq.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer
A Closer Look
What Makes a Contract Debt Easier to Collect
Not all debts are created equal in a courtroom. A handshake deal can come down to one person's word against another's. A signed contract removes most of that doubt. It names the parties, the obligation, and the terms, which means the case is usually about enforcement, not proof.
That clarity matters, because the scale of the problem is enormous. The European Commission has reported that roughly 1 in 2 invoices in Europe is paid late or not at all, and that late payment is a factor in about a quarter of business bankruptcies. Behind a large share of those broken payments is a written agreement that someone chose to ignore. The contract is exactly what turns a frustrating loss into an enforceable claim.
There is a catch, and it is the reason to move now. Maryland places time limits on how long you can sue to collect, and the window depends on the type of debt and the document behind it. Some written contracts carry a longer period than others. Once the deadline passes, the strongest contract in the world may no longer help you in court. The advantage you hold today does not last indefinitely.
Why It Matters
What Is at Stake
A broken contract is more than a missing payment. It is a test of whether your agreements mean anything.
The Balance
The full amount they agreed to pay
The Extras
Interest and costs the contract allows
The Deadline
Your right to sue before it expires
The Precedent
Showing your contracts have teeth
How We Enforce Your Contract
We read the agreement closely, demand what it requires, and take it to court when the other side ignores their own signature.
We Read the Agreement
We study the terms to find every obligation the other side owes, including interest and collection costs they agreed to.
We Demand Performance
We send a demand grounded in their own contract, which often moves a defaulting party who knows the document is solid.
We File on the Breach
If they still will not pay, we sue on the breach, where a written contract gives you a strong, clear position.
We Collect the Judgment
A win is the start of recovery, not the end. We enforce the judgment with the tools the law provides.
Common Questions
Breach of Contract Debts, Answered
How long do I have to sue on a contract debt in Maryland?
Maryland sets time limits, and they depend on the type of debt and document. Many written contract claims carry a multi-year window, and certain sealed instruments carry a longer one, but oral agreements and some account types can be shorter. Because the exact deadline turns on your specific situation, it is worth confirming early. Once the period runs out, a court may refuse to enforce even a clear debt.
Does the contract need to be in writing to enforce it?
A written contract is far easier to enforce, because the terms are documented and not left to memory. Oral agreements can sometimes be pursued, but they are harder to prove and may carry a shorter deadline to sue. If you have a signed agreement, you are in a strong position. If you do not, we can still look at what records exist.
Can I recover more than the unpaid amount?
Possibly. Many contracts provide for interest, late fees, or the costs of collection, and where they do, those can be pursued along with the principal. The law may also allow certain additions. What you can recover depends on the language of your agreement and the facts, so we review the document and give you a realistic picture rather than a promise.
The other side claims they had a reason not to pay. Now what?
Defenses like that are common, and most do not hold up the way the debtor hopes. We look at whether their claim has any real basis under the contract, and in many cases the answer is no. Where there is a genuine dispute about performance, we address it head on. Either way, a written contract gives us a clear framework to test their excuse against.
Is suing really necessary, or will a demand work?
Often a demand is enough. A formal demand grounded in the contract, on law-firm letterhead, resolves many defaults because the debtor understands the next step is a lawsuit they are likely to lose. When a demand does not work, we are ready to file. We pursue the path that recovers your money at the lowest cost and effort to you.
You Have a Signed Contract. Let's Make It Count.
A written agreement is the strongest tool a creditor has, but only while the deadline to sue is still open. Reach out and we will read your contract and pursue the full amount it entitles you to.
Talk to us today: 301-627-5844