Statute of Limitations for Class B Misdemeanor in Tennessee

Overview

In Tennessee, the statute of limitations (often shortened to “SOL”) sets a deadline for the state to start a prosecution for certain criminal offenses. For a Class B misdemeanor, Tennessee applies a 1-year limitations period under the sentencing statutes governing misdemeanors.

DocketMath’s Statute of Limitations calculator helps you translate that rule into a concrete “last day” date based on the offense date and other inputs. This can be especially useful when you’re tracking case timelines, preparing a filing calendar, or simply verifying whether a charging decision fell within the statutory window.

Limitation period

For a Class B misdemeanor in Tennessee, the SOL is 1 year.

In practical terms, you generally calculate the limitations period by counting one calendar year from the relevant triggering date (typically the date the offense occurred, unless another statute or tolling event applies). DocketMath is designed to reflect the statutory baseline and then adjust for the inputs that change the result.

How the SOL “last day” can change

Use DocketMath to see how different inputs affect the output. Here are common factors that can shift the final date:

• Offense date: The single biggest driver—changing the offense date changes the end date by the same amount.
• Whether the case is treated as subject to the misdemeanor limitations rule: Tennessee’s criminal procedure framework distinguishes misdemeanor classes and ties limitations to misdemeanor sentencing provisions.
• Exception/tolling triggers: Certain exceptions can extend the limitations period or affect when the clock starts or stops.

If your offense is a Class B misdemeanor, the calculator defaults to the 1-year rule tied to Tennessee’s misdemeanor limitations statute, then prompts you for exception-related inputs (if applicable) so the computed “last day” reflects the correct pathway.

Example timeline (baseline)

• Offense date: March 15, 2025
• Baseline SOL: 1 year
• Baseline “last day” window: March 15, 2026 (subject to exceptions and tolling inputs)

Because exact “last day” computations can depend on how the calculator treats date boundaries, DocketMath shows the computed date and the rule it used so you can audit the result.

Key exceptions

Tennessee’s misdemeanor limitations framework includes specific statutory language and referenced rules that can affect the limitations period.

1) Exception tied to § 40-35-111(e)(2)

Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-111(e)(2) provides the 1-year limitations period for qualifying misdemeanor prosecutions and includes an exception pathway labeled in DocketMath’s rule mapping as “exception V2.” Under the provided rule set:

• Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(e)(2) — 1 year — exception V2

This is the core rule you’ll want in view when your matter involves a Class B misdemeanor.

2) Exception under § 40-2-102(a)

Tennessee also has a general misdemeanor limitations provision in Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-2-102(a). In DocketMath’s mapping, this is listed as:

• Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-2-102(a) — 1 year — exception V3

In practice, this can matter where a case is analyzed under the general limitations chapter rather than (or in addition to) the sentencing limitations provision. DocketMath’s calculator is built to let you select the applicable pathway so the output tracks the correct statutory citation.

What to watch for (without overcomplicating)

When you run the calculator, focus on these checklist items:

Statute citation

For Class B misdemeanor offenses in Tennessee, the governing statute cited in DocketMath’s rule set is:

• Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-111(e)(2) — 1 year
  Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-40/chapter-35/part-1/section-40-35-111/

Related mapped rule used by DocketMath for an alternative exception pathway:

• Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-2-102(a) — 1 year
  (Mapped in DocketMath as exception V3)

DocketMath uses these citations to anchor the calculation so the computed “last day” is traceable to a statutory basis.

Quick reference table

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s Statute of Limitations calculator: **/tools/statute-of-limitations

Inputs to provide

To get an accurate “last day” date, you’ll typically enter:

• Jurisdiction: Tennessee (US-TN)
• Offense date: the date the conduct occurred (or the date you’re using as the SOL trigger)
• Offense class: select Class B misdemeanor
• Exception pathway (if prompted):

  • Use V2 for the § 40-35-111(e)(2) pathway
  • Use V3 for the § 40-2-102(a) pathway

How output changes when you change inputs

• If you change the offense date by 1 day, the calculated deadline typically shifts by 1 day.
• If you select V2 versus V3, the calculator will still show 1 year under the provided rule mapping, but the statutory citation used (and the audit trail) will change—helpful when you’re aligning with a particular legal theory or procedural framework.
• If your case record indicates a different triggering date or requires a different exception pathway, selecting the correct pathway in DocketMath is what keeps the output consistent with the statutory basis.

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