In Tennessee, the deadline for a civil lawsuit over child sexual abuse depends on when the abuse happened. It ranges from three years after discovering the injury, for older abuse, to as long as 30 years after the survivor turns 18, for abuse on or after July 1, 2025.
Please note: Greer Law handles sexual abuse claims against institutions and organizations that allowed the abuse to happen, such as schools, churches, youth programs, hotels, and employers. We do not take cases against an individual acting alone, such as a family member, spouse, partner, or acquaintance. If that describes your situation, the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 can connect you with support.
Tennessee recently changed its statute of limitations for sexual assault committed against a minor. Marlo Greer talks about this in her video on this topic. Here is what you need to know about suing someone who sexually abused a child in Tennessee.
A statute of limitations is a law that bars claims once a certain amount of time has passed. Different types of wrongs have different limits, and usually, the more serious the wrong, the longer survivors have to sue. (Crimes have their own statutes of limitations; this article is about civil claims.) In recent years, states have extended their deadlines for child sexual abuse to give survivors more time. Sometimes the clock starts when the child reaches a certain age.
Tennessee Child Sexual Abuse: Which Date Range Applies?
Like many states, Tennessee sets different deadlines for civil lawsuits for sexual abuse of a child, depending on when the abuse took place. There are three separate sets of deadlines:
| When the abuse happened | Deadline to sue |
|---|---|
| Before July 1, 2019 | If the abuse was not discovered at the time, three years from discovering that the injury or illness was caused by child sexual abuse |
| July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2025 | 15 years after turning 18, or three years from discovery, whichever is later |
| On or after July 1, 2025 | 30 years after turning 18, or three years from discovery, whichever is later |
Deadlines vary a lot from state to state. Read Sexual Assault Civil Filing Deadlines: Why the State Matters. For Colorado’s rules, see Colorado Civil Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations.
Sexual Assault Before July 1, 2019
If the child sexual assault took place before July 1, 2019, but was not discovered at the time, you have three years from discovery of the injury to bring a lawsuit.
The word “discovery” has a specific meaning. It means “when the injured person becomes aware that the injury or illness was caused by child sexual abuse.”
“Injury or illness” also has a defined meaning: “either a physical injury or illness or a psychological injury or illness.” For many survivors, the long-term effects of abuse stay buried for years until they become aware of what caused their mental or physical issues.
As a practical matter, if you were sexually abused as a child before July 1, 2019, and only recently discovered that mental or physical issues you’re suffering relate to that abuse, you still have three years from that discovery to sue the person responsible.
Sexual Assault From July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2025
If the child sexual abuse happened between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2025, you have 15 years from when you turn 18 to sue the person responsible. If the “illness or injury” was not “discovered” when the abuse happened, you also have three years from when you discover it.
Marlo also notes that many child abuse cases involve a series of sexual assaults. In Tennessee, you do not have to pinpoint which incident caused your injury or illness. When the abuse was a series of acts by the same person, the law lets you measure discovery from the last act in that pattern.
Sexual Assault on or After July 1, 2025
For child sexual abuse that happened on or after July 1, 2025, you have 30 years from when you turn 18 to bring your lawsuit. You also have three years from discovering the injury caused by the abuse.
Talking to a Lawyer About Child Sexual Abuse
If this sounds complicated, it’s because it is. We represent survivors of sexual assault and help them recover compensation for the abuse they suffered. We also understand that deciding to sue someone for sexual assault can be extremely difficult, especially when the assault happened when you were a child.
We’ll give you the information you need to decide whether to bring this kind of lawsuit. Compensation can help pay for treatment you may need because of the abuse, but we will never pressure you into your decision.
Call Greer Law at 303-331-6460 or submit our contact form to schedule a free case evaluation.
