Texas Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws
By Christie Nicholson, J.D. | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last reviewed March 28, 2025
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and attorneys and in accordance with our editorial standards.
The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area.
Every state has statutes of limitations that restrict the time a person or entity has to file legal action. There are both civil and criminal statutes of limitations. The criminal statute of limitations establishes time limits on how long the prosecutor can wait to file formal criminal charges against a suspect.
These time limits serve two main purposes. First, they ensure that the courts handle criminal cases more efficiently and urgently. Second, they help preserve the integrity of evidence, including eyewitness testimony that may become unreliable with time.
There are different statutes of limitations for different crimes. The more serious the alleged offense, the longer the limitations period. As you can imagine, felony offenses have a much longer statute of limitations than misdemeanors and petty crimes.
In Texas, as in other states, serious felonies such as murder and certain sexual assaults are not bound by any statute of limitations.
Here, we’ll explain how the criminal statutes of limitations work in Texas and discuss the statute of limitations period for specific crimes, such as aggravated kidnapping and DWI.
If you’re facing criminal charges in Texas, contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
Texas Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws at a Glance
The table below summarizes Texas law and the Texas criminal statutes of limitations. At the end of this article, we’ll also provide links to helpful FindLaw resources.
Texas penal code and relevant statutes | |
---|---|
Felonies | Felonies There is no statute of limitations for the following criminal offenses:
Felonies with 10-Year Statute of Limitations
Other Felony Charges
For many of the above crimes, if the victim is under 18 at the time of the crime, the court typically issues a tolling of the statute of limitations from 10 years after the victim’s 18th birthday or 20 years, whichever is sooner. |
Misdemeanors | The statute of limitations is two years from the date of the crime. |
Crimes against children |
|
Acts during which statute does not run | The statute of limitations does not run when the accused is out of state or while a felony indictment, information, or complaint is pending. |
Other |
|
Disclaimer: State laws are constantly changing. Contact a Texas criminal defense attorney or conduct legal research to verify your state laws.
Learn More About Texas Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws from a Lawyer
Criminal charges often result in prison terms, fines, or probation. An experienced criminal defense attorney can increase your chances of an acquittal or favorable plea bargain.
If you have questions about your criminal charges, consult a criminal defense attorney in Texas.
Texas Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws: Related Resources
Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?
- Complex criminal defense situations usually require a lawyer
- Defense attorneys can help protect your rights
- A lawyer can seek to reduce or eliminate criminal penalties
Get tailored advice and ask your legal questions. Many Texas attorneys offer free consultations.
Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life

Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.