Statute of Limitations for Class A / Gross Misdemeanor in Michigan

Overview

In Michigan, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the prosecution of certain criminal offenses. For Class A misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, Michigan uses a general SOL rule found in MCL § 767.24(1).

DocketMath’s Statute of Limitations calculator helps you model that deadline using dates you already have (for example, the alleged offense date and the filing date). This post focuses on the default rule because no claim-type-specific sub-rule was identified beyond the general/duty rule.

Limitation period

Default (general) SOL for Class A / gross misdemeanor

Michigan’s general criminal SOL rule provides a 6-year limitation period under:

• General SOL Period: 6 years
• Default rule source: **MCL § 767.24(1)
• Applies as the general/default period: Yes—because no additional Class A/gross-misdemeanor-specific sub-rule was found for this scenario.

In practical terms, if the alleged offense occurred on a specific date, the prosecution generally must be started within 6 years of that date (subject to exceptions discussed below).

How the calculator changes the result

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator typically relies on inputs like:

• Date of the alleged offense (the start anchor for the SOL clock)
• Date the case was filed/charged (the end comparison point)
• Optional toggles if you’re modeling a different procedural posture or an extension scenario (if supported)

When you change either date, the output will change in predictable ways:

Practical checklist (timing-focused)

Before using the calculator, gather:

If your case involves a range of dates (for example, “between March 2019 and July 2019”), you’ll want to decide which date(s) the SOL anchor should use for modeling—different approaches can produce different deadlines.

Key exceptions

Michigan’s SOL framework can be affected by exceptions and procedural rules. While this post uses MCL § 767.24(1) as the default 6-year period, SOL analysis sometimes turns on circumstances that pause, extend, or change how the clock is measured.

Because statutory exceptions are fact-specific, treat the “exceptions” section as a map of where to look—not a final determination.

Common categories that can affect SOL calculations

When reviewing the timing of a misdemeanor/gross misdemeanor case, watch for issues in these categories:

• Tolling due to the defendant’s absence or other legally relevant delays
• Special procedural events that impact when the prosecution is considered to have been initiated for SOL purposes
• Date-of-offense disputes, especially when the alleged conduct spans multiple dates

How to model exceptions in DocketMath

Use DocketMath in two passes when you suspect an exception:

1. **Default run (6-year rule)

   • Enter the offense date and the charge initiation date.
2. Exception-aware run

   • If you have credible dates tied to tolling/extension (for example, an absence period or a procedural milestone), rerun with those adjusted dates or toggles (if the calculator supports them).

A good workflow is to compare:

If the second date meaningfully shifts the deadline, that’s a signal that the fact pattern may matter for SOL.

Statute citation

Michigan’s general statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions is codified at:

• MCL § 767.24(1) — 6-year general period

Under the data used for this topic:

• General SOL Period: 6 years
• General Statute: **MCL § 767.24(1)
• Source note: Provided from michigan.gov (Michigan’s official domain)

Use the calculator

You can calculate the Michigan SOL deadline with DocketMath’s Statute of Limitations calculator: **/tools/statute-of-limitations

What to enter (typical inputs)

While the exact fields can vary by tool configuration, the standard SOL workflow is:

• Offense date (start anchor for the SOL clock)
• Prosecution/charging date (comparison point)
• Michigan jurisdiction (US-MI) / offense category modeled under the general rule

What outputs to expect

After you run the calculation, DocketMath generally provides:

• Computed SOL expiration date (based on the default 6-year rule from MCL § 767.24(1))
• A pass/fail-style timing result comparing your charge date to the SOL expiration date
• A time delta (how long between offense date and charge date)

If your result shows the filing occurred after the computed expiration date, that indicates the case may be outside the default limitation window—again, subject to exceptions and procedural timing rules.

Quick “try it” scenarios

Use these examples to sanity-check your inputs (not legal conclusions):

• If you alleged an offense on 2020-01-15 and charges were initiated on 2026-01-20, a 6-year rule suggests the charge is likely near or after the expiration date.
• If you alleged the same offense date but charges were initiated on 2025-12-20, the result will likely fall within the 6-year window.

If your real dates differ, the same mechanics apply—shift the dates, and the computed expiration date shifts accordingly.

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