Guide

Timeshare Rescission Periods by State

New timeshare buyers usually have a short window to cancel the purchase without penalty. Here is how that window works, and how to use it if you are still inside it.

General information, not legal advice · 4 min read

How the clock usually starts

You sign the contract.
You receive the required disclosure documents.
The clock starts on the later of the two.In many states. Check your contract and your state’s rule.
Your deadline.Commonly 3 to 10 days, up to 15 in some states.

The basics

The rescission period, defined.

A rescission period — sometimes called a “cooling-off period” or “right of rescission” — is a window of time after signing a timeshare contract during which the buyer can cancel the agreement without penalty and be refunded what was paid.

The length depends on your state: commonly 3 to 10 days, and up to 15 in some states. Some states count calendar days; others count business days or leave out Sundays and holidays.

Your deadline

In many states the clock starts on the later of the day you sign or the day you receive the required disclosure documents.

Your contract should state your deadline. If you may still be inside your window, don’t wait: send your cancellation in writing now.

This is different from a CPG exit. Rescission is a legal right to cancel a brand-new purchase within a short state-mandated window. If that window has already closed, rescission is no longer available, and cancelling the contract works differently — that is what our exit options guide covers.

Before you send anything

How to cancel within your rescission period.

Find your deadline and the notice address.
Your contract or disclosure documents should state how many days you have, whether they are calendar or business days, and where and how to send notice. Follow those instructions exactly.
Write a cancellation letter.
State clearly that you are exercising your right of rescission. Include your name, address, the property description and the date of purchase.
Use the required delivery method.
Check the applicable notice instructions and address. If certified mail is an accepted method, retain the mailing receipt and delivery record.
Use any other method your contract allows.
If the contract also lists an email address or fax number for notices, a second delivery can give you an extra record. The method your contract requires is the one that counts.
Do not rely on a phone call.
Rescission generally must be exercised in writing to count.
Keep copies of everything.
The signed contract, your cancellation letter and proof of delivery. You may need them later.

Your state

Where to confirm your state’s rule.

The number of days, how they are counted and when the clock starts all depend on your state, and sometimes on how and where the sale was made. A few states have no timeshare-specific cancellation statute at all.

Use the state directory below to find public consumer-protection resources. It is a starting point for checking your rule, not a table of legal deadlines. Confirm the details using:

Your contract and disclosure documents.
The seller is generally required to state your cancellation deadline and where to send notice.
Your state’s statute.
Read it on your state legislature’s website.
Your state attorney general’s consumer protection office.
Find your attorney general naag.org
A licensed attorney in your state.
An attorney can confirm your rights if you are unsure.

Typical windowCommonly 3 to 10 days, up to 15 in some states.

How days countCalendar days in some states; business days in others.

When it startsOften the later of signing or receiving the required disclosures.

Resources for All 50 States

Select your state to find its public office. Ask where to check the timeshare cancellation rule, how the notice period is counted, and which delivery requirements apply to your purchase. A complaint to an agency does not replace a cancellation notice.

Office links are based on the National Association of Attorneys General directory, checked October 8, 2026. Confirm the specific deadline against your documents and current state law, with a licensed attorney if needed.

Past your window

If your rescission period has passed.

Once the rescission period expires, cancelling becomes more complex. You no longer have an automatic right to cancel — instead, you would work through one of the available exit paths based on your contract, developer and financial situation.

CPG helps owners who are past their cancellation window explore a deed-back, surrender or other exit path. If you may still be inside your window, check the cancellation instructions promptly before hiring an exit company.

See every exit option explained

Questions to ask before hiring an exit company

Sources

Check it yourself.

These are independent sources, not CPG. Use them to check anything on this page.

NAAG: Find your state attorney general
naag.org · Find your state attorney general’s complaint process.
FTC: Timeshares, vacation clubs, and related scams
consumer.ftc.gov · Scam warnings and consumer rights specific to timeshares.