Statute of Limitations for Class A / Gross Misdemeanor in Arizona

Overview

In Arizona, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the state to file (or prosecute) criminal charges. For a Class A misdemeanor and what Arizona law terms a “gross misdemeanor” (Arizona does not use “gross misdemeanor” as a separate statewide category in the same way as some other states; instead, many “gross misdemeanor” references track to misdemeanor offenses punishable by up to 6 months), the practical starting point is the general criminal SOL.

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator is designed to apply the default rule when a charge type-specific sub-rule isn’t identified. Here, the general/default period governs: 2 years under A.R.S. § 13-107(A). No claim-type-specific sub-rule was found for this topic description, so this page focuses on the general deadline rather than a specialized override.

Limitation period

The default SOL for these offenses: 2 years

Under A.R.S. § 13-107(A), Arizona generally provides a 2-year limitations period for certain classes of criminal offenses not covered by longer/shorter special categories.

For the purposes of this guide (Class A / “gross misdemeanor” as commonly referenced), the default period is:

• General SOL period: 2 years
• General statute: **A.R.S. § 13-107(A)
• What the rule is used for here: when no charge-type-specific sub-rule is identified, apply the general/default deadline.

How to use dates to get an “earliest filing cutoff”

SOL calculations usually depend on:

• The relevant starting date (often the date of the alleged offense; some situations can adjust the effective start), and
• Whether any exceptions/tolling applies (which can pause or extend the clock).

Because your facts determine whether the starting date is straightforward, the calculator is best used with a careful “date you want the clock to start from.” In DocketMath, that typically means entering:

• Date of the alleged conduct (commonly the “offense date”), or
• The date you’re using as the effective accrual/start point for your timeline.

What changes when you pick different input dates?

Use the same 2-year rule, but change the input date and the deadline moves:

In other words, the length is fixed (2 years) under the general rule, while your deadline shifts based on the date you provide.

Key exceptions

Because SOL rules are fact-sensitive, Arizona’s general SOL can be extended or altered by exceptions. Even when the base period is 2 years, the clock may not run cleanly in every scenario.

Here are practical categories to check before you lock in a deadline using the calculator:

• Tolling (pauses in the clock):

  • Certain events can pause the limitations period. These often relate to defendant unavailability, pending matters, or other statutory tolling mechanisms.
• How courts treat the “start date”:

  • While the offense date is a common baseline, there are circumstances where the start point may differ depending on how the charging theory is framed.
• Special statutory categories (not applicable here unless proven):

  • Some offenses have different SOL periods than the general 2 years. This guide applies the general/default period because no charge-type-specific sub-rule was found for “Class A / gross misdemeanor” in the provided data.

Practical checklist (quick pre-calculation)

Before running DocketMath’s calculator, confirm these items in your timeline:

If you’re confident the general rule applies and no tolling/special-category arguments are in play, the 2-year calculation is straightforward.

Statute citation

The general/default statute of limitations rule for the period described here is:

• A.R.S. § 13-107(A) — General SOL period: 2 years
  Source context (overview of Arizona criminal SOL rules): https://www.findlaw.com/state/arizona-law/arizona-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html?utm_source=openai

This page uses A.R.S. § 13-107(A) as the controlling reference for the 2-year limitations period because no additional claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified in the provided information for “Class A / gross misdemeanor.” As a result, this guide applies the general/default period rather than attempting to create a more specific subcategory rule.

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool helps you generate a timeline based on Arizona’s general SOL framework.

Primary CTA: **/tools/statute-of-limitations

What you’ll typically enter

To run a default SOL timeline for the 2-year rule:

1. Choose the start date

   • Usually the alleged offense date (or the date you are treating as the effective start).
2. Confirm Arizona jurisdiction (US-AZ)

   • The tool applies Arizona’s general SOL structure.
3. Select the applicable offense category in the tool

   • For this page’s purpose, the calculation uses the general/default 2-year rule consistent with A.R.S. § 13-107(A).

How output changes with input

• If you move the start date forward by 30 days, the computed deadline moves forward by about 30 days.
• The SOL period itself stays constant under the default rule: 2 years.
• If the tool incorporates tolling options (where available), selecting those can extend the deadline. Without tolling selections, you’ll generally see the “base 2-year” deadline.

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