Statute of limitations for rape in Michigan

Rule or statute summary

In Michigan, the general statute of limitations (SOL) for rape is 6 years under the state’s general criminal limitations statute. The key authority is MCL § 767.24(1), which provides a baseline 6-year limitations period for covered serious felony offenses (including rape, under the general limitations framework).

Per the jurisdiction notes provided, no claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified. That means this guide uses the general/default 6-year period as the governing rule for a baseline deadline—unless another separate rule applies (for example, statutes addressing tolling, exceptions, or other procedural timing effects).

Gentle caution: Criminal SOL issues can depend on case-specific procedural history. This discussion is meant to help you understand the general framework and generate a starting-point timeline, not to provide legal advice or a final determination of prosecutability.

Citations

General SOL period used in this guide: 6 years
General statute used: MCL § 767.24(1)
Jurisdiction: Michigan (US-MI)
Source for jurisdiction data: https://www.michigan.gov

What to double-check in your timeline

When you’re mapping the “last day” to file or prosecute under a criminal SOL, you typically need to confirm:

• Date of the alleged offense (the starting point for the general calculation)
• Whether your case involves any tolling or exception events that may pause, extend, or otherwise affect the limitations period
• Whether any separate statutory rule applies beyond the general default period

The next section shows how to plug the baseline rule into DocketMath’s calculator.

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath’s Statute of Limitations Calculator here: DocketMath – Statute of Limitations Calculator (Primary CTA)

To keep the calculation aligned with the jurisdiction default, configure it as follows:

1. Jurisdiction: **Michigan (US-MI)
2. SOL rule selection: general/default (because no claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified in the provided notes)
3. Offense date (required): enter the date the alleged conduct occurred

How the calculator works (practically)

In plain terms, the calculator is using this workflow:

• Starts from the offense date you enter
• Applies the general SOL period: 6 years (from MCL § 767.24(1))
• Produces a latest possible baseline deadline under the general/default rule

Inputs and how outputs change

Here’s what changes when you adjust your inputs:

• If the offense date moves forward by 1 year, the calculated baseline deadline moves forward by ~1 year.
• If you were to switch to a different rule within the calculator (for example, a confirmed tolling/exception rule), the deadline could shift materially.
• If you keep the general/default rule selected, the primary driver of the output is the offense date.

Worked example (general/default rule)

Assume:

• Offense date: January 10, 2020
• General SOL period: 6 years (under MCL § 767.24(1))

A baseline calculation using the general/default rule would set the expiration around:

• January 10, 2026 (subject to the calculator’s day-counting conventions)

Quick checklist before using the result

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator