IOUs issued ten years ago are still valid if they meet legal requirements and have not expired within the statutory limitation period. However, whether it is valid or not requires consideration of other factors, such as the content of the IOU, the method of signing, etc.

1. Validity Period of IOU

As a written voucher, IOU has certain legal effect. However, the validity period of the IOU is not permanent but is limited by the legal limitation period. In our country, according to Article 188 of the "People's Republic of China and Civil Code", the statute of limitations for petitioning the People's Court for protection of civil rights is three years. If the law provides otherwise, such provisions shall prevail. Therefore, if the creditor's rights recorded in the IOU are not claimed against the debtor within three years, the creditor's rights will lose legal protection and the IOU will lose its validity.

2. The content and signing method of the IOU

In addition to being limited by the legal limitation period, the validity of the IOU also needs to meet certain formal requirements. For example, the IOU should clearly record basic information such as the creditor, debtor, amount owed, reason for arrears, and repayment time. In addition, the IOU should be signed or stamped by the creditor and debtor to prove the true intention of both parties. If the IOU has issues such as incomplete content and irregular signature, it may be invalid or disputes may arise.

3. The evidentiary validity of the IOU

Even if the IOU meets the legal requirements and has not expired, its evidentiary validity still needs to be judged by the court in the specific case. If the debtor raises an objection or defense, the court will review the evidentiary validity of the IOU based on the evidence provided by both parties and legal provisions. Therefore, when claiming a claim, in addition to providing an IOU, the creditor also needs to provide other relevant evidence, such as transfer records, chat records, etc., to prove the authenticity and legality of the claim.

In summary:

IOUs issued ten years ago are still valid if they meet legal requirements and have not expired within the statutory limitation period. However, the validity of the IOU also needs to consider its content, signing method and other factors. When claiming a claim, the creditor needs to provide sufficient evidence to prove the authenticity and legality of the claim. At the same time, both parties should abide by legal provisions and the principle of good faith and jointly maintain the legal validity of the IOU.

Legal basis:

"The People's Republic of China and the Civil Code"

Article 188:

To The statute of limitations for a People's Court request for protection of civil rights is three years. If the law provides otherwise, such provisions shall prevail.

"People's Republic of China and Civil Code"

Article 465:

A contract established in accordance with the law shall be protected by law. A contract established in accordance with the law is only legally binding on the parties, unless otherwise provided by law.