Statute of Limitations for Class D / 4th Degree Felony in Utah

Overview

In Utah, the statute of limitations sets a deadline for the state to file criminal charges. For a Class D / 4th degree felony, Utah generally provides a 4-year limitations period. That timeline is governed by Utah Code § 76-1-302, which covers when prosecutions must be commenced for various felony and misdemeanor categories.

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool can help you translate the statutory period into a concrete “latest filing date” using the facts you enter—especially the date of the alleged offense and any applicable tolling or exceptions you choose to account for.

Limitation period

For Utah felony prosecutions, the default rule in Utah Code § 76-1-302 establishes a schedule of limitations based on the offense class. For a Class D / 4th degree felony, the limitations period is:

• 4 years

What “4 years” means in practice

When people say “4-year statute of limitations,” they usually mean:

• The state must commence the prosecution within 4 years of the triggering date (commonly, the date of the alleged offense).
• If the state files after that deadline—absent an applicable exception—the charge is vulnerable to dismissal on limitations grounds.

Using DocketMath to compute the deadline

You can run the calculation directly through DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool:

• Start at: https://docketmath.com/tools/statute-of-limitations (or use the in-app link above)
• You’ll typically enter:

  • Offense date (or the relevant triggering date)
  • Jurisdiction: US-UT
  • Offense category: Class D / 4th degree felony
  • Any exception/tolling selection that affects the end date

Then DocketMath converts the statute’s time window into an output you can use for planning and review—such as a computed deadline (e.g., “latest date charges may be commenced”).

How the output changes with inputs

Use this quick checklist to understand what drives the result:

• ✅ If you change the offense date: the computed “latest filing date” moves accordingly.
• ✅ If you select an exception that extends time: DocketMath’s deadline shifts later.
• ✅ If you select no exception: the tool applies the baseline 4-year rule under Utah law.

Key exceptions

Utah’s statute includes enumerated rules and exceptions that can change the outcome. One explicit exception relevant to this category is identified in your jurisdiction data:

• Exception P4: Utah Code § 76-1-302 — exception P4

How exceptions affect the deadline

Exceptions generally fall into two buckets:

1. Extensions/tolling: the limitations clock may stop, pause, or resume later.
2. Alternative triggering rules: the “start” of the 4-year clock may move depending on specific statutory conditions.

Because exceptions are statute-driven and fact-specific, the safest way to apply them is to:

• Confirm whether the scenario you’re evaluating matches the statutory exception requirements, and
• Use DocketMath to compare:

  • a baseline calculation (4 years only), and
  • a modified calculation including the selected exception(s)

Common workflow (without legal advice)

Use this workflow to keep your calculations organized:

• Step 1: Run the baseline 4-year calculation.

  • Goal: establish the “default” latest filing date.
• Step 2: Identify whether Exception P4 (Utah Code § 76-1-302, as reflected in the rules list) plausibly applies.
• Step 3: Re-run in DocketMath with the exception selected.

  • Goal: see how much later (if at all) the tool’s computed deadline becomes.
• Step 4: Document the assumption(s) you selected.

  • Goal: support internal review if someone later challenges the computation.

Statute citation

The limitations period for Class D / 4th degree felony prosecutions in Utah is based on:

• Utah Code § 76-1-302

  • 4 years
  • Exception P4 (as reflected in the provided sub-rules set)

Additional Utah courts’ legal help materials also summarize the statute of limitations framework and Utah’s approach to timing deadlines, including Utah Code § 76-1-302:

• Source: https://www.utcourts.gov/en/legal-help/legal-help/procedures/statute-limitation.html

Use the calculator

You can compute the Utah deadline with DocketMath here:

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

What to enter for a Class D / 4th degree felony (US-UT)

To align with the statute-of-limitations rules provided for Utah:

• Jurisdiction: US-UT
• Offense category: Class D / 4th degree felony
• Statute-based period: 4 years (from Utah Code § 76-1-302)
• Exception handling:

  • Baseline run: no exception selected
  • Alternate run: select Exception P4 if it fits the scenario you’re evaluating

Practical “inputs vs outputs” example (conceptual)

Consider two DocketMath runs:

• Run A (baseline):

  • Offense date = Date 1
  • Period = 4 years
  • Output = latest filing date = Date 1 + 4 years
• Run B (with exception):

  • Same offense date = Date 1
  • Applies Exception P4
  • Output = latest filing date = later than Run A if the exception extends the clock under the statute

Because the exact statutory mechanics of each exception depend on qualifying facts, DocketMath’s value is that it makes the consequences of your assumptions visible side-by-side.

Output review checklist

After running DocketMath, verify:

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