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

Overview

In Tennessee, the statute of limitations (SOL) for certain homicide cases is governed by the criminal statute limitations scheme in Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 1. For first-degree murder / murder prosecutions covered by this framework, the limitation period is set by Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-111(e)(2), with additional timing rules tied to the general limitations framework in Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-2-102(a).

DocketMath’s Statute of Limitations Calculator helps you translate those rules into a concrete “last date” for filing (based on the inputs you provide). Because SOL analysis depends heavily on factual timing (especially the date of the offense and any triggering event dates), treat the calculator as a structured way to compute dates—not as legal advice.

Limitation period

For the homicide limitations rule you referenced, the SOL period is 1 year under Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-111(e)(2) (shown in your jurisdiction data as “1 years — exception V2”).

Practically, that means the prosecution must commence within 1 year from the offense’s triggering date as defined by the applicable limitations framework. When the general limitations rule in Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-2-102(a) also indicates a 1 year limitation period (your jurisdiction data shows this as “1 years — exception V3”), it reinforces that the clock you’re computing under Tennessee law for this category is short and date-sensitive.

How the SOL clock changes with key dates

When you use DocketMath, your output depends on these core inputs:

• Offense date (or other triggering date)

  • This is the date from which the limitations period begins running.
• Which limitations rule applies

  • For first-degree murder / murder prosecutions within this framework, the calculator aligns to § 40-35-111(e)(2) (1 year).
• Any exception selection

  • Exceptions can change whether the SOL applies, whether time is tolled, or how the end date is computed.

If you enter a later offense date, the computed last permissible date shifts forward accordingly. Likewise, if the “exception” mode you select changes the underlying rule, the end date can move.

Quick duration sanity-check

A 1-year SOL is straightforward in principle but can be tricky in execution:

• If your offense date is January 10, 2024, then a 1-year period generally points to a deadline around January 10, 2025 (exact computation may depend on how the calculator handles the day-count method and any statutory construction rules it implements).
• If your offense date is February 29 (leap-year scenarios), the end date calculation is especially sensitive—DocketMath’s calculator logic matters here.

Key exceptions

Tennessee’s limitations framework includes exception handling that can affect whether the SOL period is shortened/extended, or whether the SOL computation changes based on specific procedural or statutory triggers.

Based on your jurisdiction data, two exception labels appear:

• Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-111(e)(2) — 1 years — exception V2
• Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-2-102(a) — 1 years — exception V3

Even though both are shown as 1 year in your dataset, they are still treated as distinct pathways in the calculator’s logic. That matters because the applicable subsection can depend on how the offense and charging theory fit the statutory language.

Common “exception” pitfalls in SOL computations

Use this checklist to reduce the risk of mis-computation:

Statute citation

The limitation period and related timing framework for this Tennessee scenario are grounded in:

• Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-111(e)(2)

  • SOL period: 1 year
  • Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-40/chapter-35/part-1/section-40-35-111/
• Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-2-102(a)

  • SOL period: 1 year (as reflected in your jurisdiction data)

For date computations, those statutes dictate whether a limitations period applies and how long it runs under the specified limitations category. DocketMath’s calculator then translates those periods into a deadline based on your entered dates.

Use the calculator

Run the computation directly in DocketMath: **Statute of Limitations Calculator

If you want the fastest workflow, use this approach:

1. Open DocketMath’s Statute of Limitations Calculator: **Statute of Limitations Calculator
2. Enter:

   • Jurisdiction: US-TN (Tennessee)
   • Offense/Rule selection: align to Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-111(e)(2) (1 year)
   • Triggering date: the offense date (or the correct statutory starting point you’re using in your process)
3. Review the computed SOL end date and the time remaining (if displayed by the calculator).

Inputs that most strongly change outputs

Use this table to anticipate result changes before you finalize entries:

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