I was sexually abused by my father when I was a child, I am now twenty, can I still file charges against him

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I was sexually abused by my father when I was a child, I am now twenty, can I still file charges against him

I was abused sexually by my father starting at the age of 7 or 8 and it
continued off and on until the age of twelve. I am now twenty and my dad
recently had another daughter with his girlfriend. I am worried that he will do
what he did to me to my sister. Can I still charge him with abuse, even though
it has been a few years?

Asked on November 25, 2017 under Criminal Law, Tennessee

Answers:

S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 7 years ago | Contributor

In criminal cases of sexual abuse, TN has different statutes of limitation.
You are 20, born in 1997.  For the sexual abuse that occurred in 2004 or 2005  when you were seven or eight, you have until your 21st birthday to file criminal charges against your father.
For the sexual abuse that occurred from June 2006 through 2009, you have until 25 years after your 18th birthday (until age 43) to bring criminal charges against your father.
 


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