Texas Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws

Time limits for felonies include the following:

• Murder: No time limit.
• Manslaughter: No time limit.
• Certain sexual assaults (including sexual abuse of a child): No time limit or 10 years.
• Hit and run resulting in death: No time limit.
• Certain human trafficking offenses: No time limit or 10 years.
• Compelling prostitution to a child younger than 18 years old: No time limit.
• Thefts involving fiduciaries or officials: 10 years.
• Forgery: 10 years.
• Injury to an elderly or disabled person: 10 years.
• Arson: 10 years.
• Compelling prostitution: 10 years.
• Misapplication of fiduciary property or property of a financial institution: 7 years.
• Execution of document by deception: 7 years.
• Money laundering: 7 years.
• Certain tax crimes: 7 years.
• Fraud: 7 years.
• Identity theft: 7 years.
• Credit card or debit card abuse: 7 years.
• Exploitation of a child or elderly person: 7 years.
• Bigamy: 7 years.
• Other theft, burglary, and robbery offenses: 5 years
• Insurance fraud: 5 years
• Abandoning or endangering a child: 5 years
• All other felonies not specifically referenced in the code section: 3 years.

For many of the crimes listed above, if the victim is under the age of seventeen when the crime is committed, the statute of limitations is typically extended from 10 to 20 years.

• Sexual abuse of young children: No time limit.
• Indecency with a child: No time limit.
• Prostitution to a child younger than 18 years old: No time limit.
• Exploitation of a child: 7 years.
• Abandoning or endangering a child: 5 years.

• The limitation period for aggravated (in most cases) and attempted crimes is the same as that of the underlying crimes. 
• The limitation period for criminal conspiracy or organized criminal activity is the same as that of the most serious offense of the underlying crimes.
• The limitation period for criminal solicitation is the same as that of the crime that was solicited.
• See Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 12.03