Statute of Limitations for Class C / 3rd Degree Felony in Massachusetts

Overview

In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the Commonwealth to file criminal charges. For a Class C / 3rd degree felony, Massachusetts generally follows a default SOL rule rather than a special deadline by label—meaning the same general limitations framework applies unless a specific exception fits the situation.

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator uses those baseline rules to estimate the last permissible filing date. Before you run numbers, it helps to know what the calculator needs and what will change the output—especially because some events can restart or extend limitations periods.

Limitation period

General rule (default SOL)

Massachusetts’ general statute for criminal prosecutions provides a 6-year limitations period for many felony-level offenses.

For your use case—Class C / 3rd degree felony—start with the general rule unless you have a reason to consider an exception. The baseline period is:

• 6 years from the applicable triggering date (commonly, the date of the conduct that gives rise to the offense, but the “trigger” can depend on how the facts are framed).

Worked example

For a US-MA Class C / 3rd Degree Felony limitations check, use the verified limitations period from the current rule packet: 3 years. The authority packet cites Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A (https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A).

Example inputs:

• Accrual date: 2024-04-25
• Filing date checked: 2026-04-25

Calculation:

• Start with the accrual date.
• Add 3 years.
• The example deadline is 2027-04-25.

This example is generated from the verified facts packet rather than freeform prose. Confirm tolling, discovery rules, and claim-specific exceptions before relying on the date.

Quick checklist for inputs

Use this list to prepare what the calculator will ask for (or what you should have handy before entering information):

Because SOL calculations are date-driven, small differences—like using the wrong event date—can materially affect the output.

Key exceptions

Even when the general period is 6 years, Massachusetts law recognizes circumstances that can extend or affect the SOL. This page focuses on the practical workflow: identify whether an exception might apply before you rely on the default deadline.

Worked example

For a US-MA Class C / 3rd Degree Felony limitations check, use the verified limitations period from the current rule packet: 3 years. The authority packet cites Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A (https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A).

Example inputs:

• Accrual date: 2024-04-25
• Filing date checked: 2026-04-25

Calculation:

• Start with the accrual date.
• Add 3 years.
• The example deadline is 2027-04-25.

This example is generated from the verified facts packet rather than freeform prose. Confirm tolling, discovery rules, and claim-specific exceptions before relying on the date.

Step-by-step deadline check

For a US-MA Class C / 3rd Degree Felony limitations check, use the verified limitations period from the current rule packet: 3 years. The authority packet cites Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A (https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A).

Example inputs:

• Accrual date: 2024-04-25
• Filing date checked: 2026-04-25

Calculation:

• Start with the accrual date.
• Add 3 years.
• The example deadline is 2027-04-25.

This example is generated from the verified facts packet rather than freeform prose. Confirm tolling, discovery rules, and claim-specific exceptions before relying on the date.

What “default” means for Class C / 3rd degree felony here

This page uses the general rule because no statute sub-rule for “Class C / 3rd degree felony” was identified beyond the baseline limitations framework. If a specific exception fits your facts, the SOL may not simply be “start date + 6 years.”

Worked example

For a US-MA Class C / 3rd Degree Felony limitations check, use the verified limitations period from the current rule packet: 3 years. The authority packet cites Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A (https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A).

Example inputs:

• Accrual date: 2024-04-25
• Filing date checked: 2026-04-25

Calculation:

• Start with the accrual date.
• Add 3 years.
• The example deadline is 2027-04-25.

This example is generated from the verified facts packet rather than freeform prose. Confirm tolling, discovery rules, and claim-specific exceptions before relying on the date.

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator helps you convert the legal limitations period into a deadline you can work with: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Steps

1. Go to the calculator: /tools/statute-of-limitations
2. Select or confirm:

   • Jurisdiction: Massachusetts (US-MA)
   • General limitations period: 6 years (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 277, § 63)
3. Enter the start/trigger date (commonly the date of the alleged conduct).
4. If the interface provides it, input any relevant event dates that could affect tolling/extension.

Worked example

For a US-MA Class C / 3rd Degree Felony limitations check, use the verified limitations period from the current rule packet: 3 years. The authority packet cites Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A (https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A).

Example inputs:

• Accrual date: 2024-04-25
• Filing date checked: 2026-04-25

Calculation:

• Start with the accrual date.
• Add 3 years.
• The example deadline is 2027-04-25.

This example is generated from the verified facts packet rather than freeform prose. Confirm tolling, discovery rules, and claim-specific exceptions before relying on the date.

How to interpret the result responsibly

• Treat the calculator output as a timing estimate based on the inputs you provide.
• If your case includes facts that suggest tolling/extension, update the calculator inputs accordingly rather than assuming the default 6-year period is the whole story.

Sanity-check tip

After you get a deadline date, compare it to the timeline you know from the case record:

• Is the charging date before or after the computed deadline?
• Does the trigger date you entered match the earliest legally relevant conduct date alleged?

If the dates don’t line up with the narrative, adjust your start date and rerun.

Sources and references

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

• Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2

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