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).

How the calculator output changes

When you use DocketMath, your result typically depends on two time elements:

• Start date: the event date the law treats as the limitations “trigger” (commonly the offense date).
• Time computation: the calculator adds the applicable limitations term and produces a “last day to file” style deadline.

If you change only the start date, the computed deadline shifts by the same amount. For example:

• Offense dated Jan 15, 2018 → 6-year deadline lands in Jan 15, 2024 (subject to the calculator’s day-counting rules).
• Offense dated Jun 1, 2018 → 6-year deadline lands in Jun 1, 2024.

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.

Common categories of exceptions to check for

While this specific page does not enumerate every exception scenario, you should actively check for:

• Tolling events: situations where the clock pauses (for example, certain procedural events or periods where the defendant is not amenable to prosecution under the statute’s framework).
• Discovery-based rules (in some contexts): when the limitations period can be keyed to discovery rather than the earliest possible date.
• Statutory extensions: any law that explicitly adds time for specific offense circumstances.

Practical steps before treating 6 years as the final answer

Before you conclude a case is time-barred based on the default SOL, do the following:

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.”

Statute citation

Massachusetts’ general statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions is:

• Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 277, § 63 — provides a 6-year general limitations period for many felony prosecutions.

This page treats 6 years as the default deadline for the Class C / 3rd degree felony scenario described, unless an exception applies based on the case-specific facts.

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.

What to expect in the output

The calculator will typically produce:

• A computed “last filing date” (deadline) based on:

  • start/trigger date
  • the 6-year limitations period
• Sometimes additional computed dates depending on the tool’s design (for example, intermediate milestones).

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