Statute of Limitations for Murder / First-Degree Murder in Arizona

Overview

In Arizona, the “statute of limitations” (SOL) rules set time limits for the State to file criminal charges after an alleged offense. For many crimes, there’s a meaningful countdown from the date of the offense (or another triggering event). For first-degree murder, though, Arizona’s practical approach depends on the statute that applies to the charge type.

Important clarity: the jurisdiction data provided here identifies a general/default SOL period of 2 years under A.R.S. § 13-107(A), and no claim-type-specific sub-rule for murder/first-degree murder was found in the supplied materials. That means this page presents the general SOL framework and explains what it does—and does not—guarantee for a murder/first-degree murder scenario.

If you’re using DocketMath, the goal is to compute the default SOL end date based on the inputs you provide, while clearly flagging that murder may involve additional rules not captured in the “general/default” dataset.

For accuracy in real cases, always cross-check the charging statute and any special time-computation provisions in the Arizona Revised Statutes and applicable case law. (This is general information, not legal advice.)

Limitation period

Default period (what this calculator uses)

Based on the provided jurisdiction data, Arizona uses this default rule:

• General SOL period: 2 years
• General statute: **A.R.S. § 13-107(A)

So, under the default framework, the State would generally need to bring the charge within 2 years of the relevant start date (often the offense date, subject to exceptions).

How the limitation “starts”

Your computed end date is only as good as the “start date” you enter. DocketMath’s SOL calculations work best when you provide the correct triggering date for the default rule—commonly:

• the date of the offense, or
• the date tied to a statutory exception (if one applies)

Because the provided materials only specify a general/default SOL and do not provide murder-specific sub-rules, treat the start date for murder/first-degree murder as a key diligence point.

Output you should expect from DocketMath

When you use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator, you’ll typically produce:

• SOL end date (default)
• the time remaining as of today (optional view, depending on the tool’s interface)
• a simple explanation of which inputs drove the output (offense date and default SOL period)

If you change inputs, the output changes in predictable ways:

• Earlier offense date → earlier SOL expiration
• Later offense date → later SOL expiration
• Changing the start date to an exception-trigger date → shifts the expiration accordingly

Key exceptions

Even with a default 2-year SOL, Arizona’s statutes include circumstances that can extend the filing deadline or change the start date. The provided dataset does not list murder-specific exceptions, so the most practical approach here is to focus on exception categories you can evaluate before relying on a calculator result.

Common exception categories to check

Review whether any of the following apply to the facts you’re modeling:

• Tolling events (periods where the SOL clock pauses)
• Jurisdictional or procedural triggers (when the clock starts later than the offense date)
• Defendant-related circumstances that affect timing rules

DocketMath can help you compute using the default rule quickly, but it can’t replace the need to determine whether an exception is legally triggered.

How to handle uncertainty without derailing the workflow

If you’re not sure whether an exception applies (for example, you’re comparing timelines during intake or case review), you can still use DocketMath in a structured way:

• Compute default SOL end date using the offense date.
• Compute an alternative scenario using a later start date you believe could apply under an exception category.
• Compare both results to see how much the timeline moves.

This produces a practical “range” while you confirm the legal basis for any exception.

Statute citation

Arizona’s default criminal SOL rule referenced in the provided jurisdiction data is:

• A.R.S. § 13-107(A) — General SOL Period: 2 years

Source for the general rule:

• https://www.findlaw.com/state/arizona-law/arizona-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html?utm_source=openai

How to read this citation in context:
A.R.S. § 13-107(A) establishes the default limitations framework. Since no murder/first-degree-murder-specific sub-rule was found in the supplied materials, this page applies the general/default period and emphasizes that additional rules may apply to murder charges.

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath’s SOL calculator to compute the default end date using the general rule.

Primary CTA: DocketMath Statute of Limitations calculator

What inputs you’ll typically need

Depending on the tool interface, you’ll usually enter:

• Offense date / start date (the date the SOL clock begins for the default rule)
• Case type selection (if the tool offers it)
• Optional “as of” date (to determine whether the deadline has already passed)

Example workflow (default framework)

1. Enter the offense date (or the start date you believe triggers A.R.S. § 13-107(A)).
2. Confirm you’re using the 2-year default limitation period.
3. Review the computed SOL end date.
4. If you suspect an exception could affect timing, re-run with an adjusted start date scenario.

What changes the result most

A quick “cause and effect” checklist:

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