Statute of Limitations for Class A / 1st Degree Felony in Michigan

Overview

In Michigan, the statute of limitations (SOL) is the deadline the state generally must use to file a criminal charge after an alleged offense occurs. If the prosecution files after the deadline, the defense can raise the SOL as a bar to the case.

For a Class A / 1st degree felony, Michigan does not require a special, “claim-type-specific” SOL rule based on that label. Based on the general/default rule, the applicable period is:

• General SOL period: 6 years
• General statute: **MCL § 767.24(1)
• Jurisdiction: Michigan (US-MI)

This means you’ll usually treat Class A / 1st degree felony timing the same as other felonies that fall within the reach of Michigan’s general SOL framework—then check whether any exception applies.

If you want a quick way to work through dates, use DocketMath’s SOL calculator here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Limitation period

The general rule (default period)

Michigan’s general SOL for most felony prosecutions is 6 years under MCL § 767.24(1). Practically, that means:

• Start with the date of the offense (or the date the statute treats as the offense date).
• Add 6 years to determine the default filing deadline.

How the “6 years” deadline behaves in real time

SOL problems often come down to a few date inputs. When you’re evaluating whether a filing is “on time,” the core moving pieces are:

• Offense date (the trigger)
• Filing/charging date (when the prosecution initiated the case)

Even if you’re focused on a Class A / 1st degree felony, the general/default clock is still the 6-year period unless an exception changes how the clock runs.

Common input set for the calculator

To make the deadline calculation more consistent, DocketMath’s SOL calculator typically works from inputs like these:

• Offense date
• Case filing date (or charge date)

Then it outputs:

• Default SOL end date
• Whether filing was inside or outside the default 6-year period

Quick checklist for date accuracy

Before relying on any SOL calculation, confirm the dates you’re using line up with the case record:

Key exceptions

Michigan’s SOL analysis doesn’t always end with “6 years from the offense.” Several legal doctrines can alter the timing. The exact applicability depends on case facts, but you should actively look for exception triggers rather than assuming the default period controls.

Here are practical categories to screen for:

1) Tolling events (clock stops or restarts)

Some circumstances can pause the SOL clock or otherwise affect how much time counts. In practice, this includes scenarios where the statute’s requirements for counting time aren’t a straightforward “add 6 years” computation.

What to do:

2) Delayed discovery concepts (limited applicability)

For many criminal-law SOL frameworks, “when the victim discovered the offense” can matter only in specific contexts. Michigan’s general SOL statute governs the baseline, but particular fact patterns may invoke different legal treatment.

What to do:

3) Procedural timing issues (charging vs. arrest)

SOL questions can be sensitive to what Michigan treats as the operative date for “commenced” prosecution.

What to do:

4) Exceptional statutory treatment beyond the general rule

While this page uses MCL § 767.24(1) as the general/default SOL period, Michigan can have additional statutory provisions that apply when a specific exception framework is triggered.

What to do:

Statute citation

Michigan’s general SOL rule for criminal prosecutions is set out in:

• MCL § 767.24(1) — general limitations period of 6 years

On this page, Class A / 1st degree felony is treated under that general/default rule, because no separate “claim-type-specific” sub-rule for that class label was identified beyond the general statute.

Source jurisdiction note: The general statute reference and period are drawn from Michigan’s statutory framework (Michigan government source).

Use the calculator

Run your dates through DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

What to enter

Typically, you’ll provide inputs such as:

• Offense date (YYYY-MM-DD)
• Case filing/charging date (YYYY-MM-DD)

What you’ll get back

The calculator generally produces outcomes like:

• Default SOL end date = offense date + 6 years (per MCL § 767.24(1))
• Status:

  • Filed within the 6-year window (default rule)
  • Filed outside the 6-year window (default rule)

How outputs change when exceptions apply

DocketMath’s base computation follows the 6-year general/default period from MCL § 767.24(1). If a tolling or interruption exception applies in the underlying case, the effective deadline may differ from the default end date.

In a practical workflow:

• First, compute the default 6-year deadline.
• Then, if your case facts suggest a tolling/exception framework, adjust the timeline based on the operative doctrine reflected in the record.

Checklist for using results responsibly:

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Michigan and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• MCL § 600.5807

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — Tool comparison
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — How-to guide
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — Tool comparison