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Tennessee Statutes of Limitations
State and federal courts have time limits for either filing a civil complaint or formal criminal charges, which are intended to ensure the integrity of evidence and to prevent people from threatening lawsuits indefinitely.
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Every state has laws regarding time limits for filing civil lawsuits and criminal charges, which are called statutes of limitations. Tennessee law is stricter than most other states about how long a person has to either file a lawsuit, especially regarding personal injury claims. Prosecutors have similar deadlines for seeking criminal charges.
Tennessee has a one-year statute of limitations for personal injury and medical malpractice claims. However, you have up to six years to file a breach of contract action. The Tennessee criminal statutes of limitations are similar to those in other states. For example, there is no time limit to file murder charges, but there is a one-year statute of limitations for most misdemeanors.
This page summarizes the key FindLaw articles on the Tennessee statutes of limitations and provides links to related articles and sections of the Tennessee Code.
Learn About Tennessee Statutes of Limitations
Tennessee Civil Statute of Limitations: What you need to know about the civil statute of limitations in the State of Tennessee, including the specific amount of time plaintiffs have to file a civil action in Tennessee.
This article covers several causes of action, including the limitations period for the following types of civil cases:
- Torts
- Wrongful death
- Personal injury
- Product liability
Tennessee Criminal Statute of Limitations: This section discusses Tennessee’s criminal statute of limitations, which imposes time limits on prosecutors’ filing of criminal charges.
This article discusses the specific time periods for common felonies and misdemeanors, including the following types of criminal cases:
- Class A Felonies
- Class B Felonies
- Class C felony crimes
- Class D Felonies
- Class E Felonies
- Murder
- Kidnapping
- Arson
Tennessee Statutes of Limitations Articles
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An Experienced Tennessee Attorney Can Help
Regardless of your legal issue, getting legal advice from an experienced attorney is always a good idea. A Tennessee criminal defense attorney can help if you’re facing criminal charges. They’ll ensure the state doesn’t pursue charges after the statute of limitations period expires.
If you need to file a civil case, consider speaking with a skilled personal injury lawyer. They’ll make sure you file your complaint before the statute of limitations period expires.
Learn About Tennessee Statutes of Limitations
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Tennessee Civil Statute of Limitations
What you need to know about the statute of limitations limiting the amount of time plaintiffs have to file a civil action in Tennessee, including the reasons for these limits.
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Tennessee Criminal Statute of Limitations
This section discusses Tennessee’s criminal statute of limitations, which imposes time limits on prosecutors’ filing of criminal charges.
Tennessee Statute of Limitation Articles
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