Voices Unmuted VM
A Movement for Survivors
Advocate for reform

Justice should not expire because trauma doesn't.

Michigan's civil filing deadline is one of the most restrictive in the country — and changing it is the single reform that would open the courthouse door to the most survivors.

Statute of limitations

A legal deadline that closes at 28.

A statute of limitations is the window to file a lawsuit. When it passes, the courthouse door closes, no matter how strong the evidence. In Michigan, most childhood sexual abuse survivors must bring a civil claim before they turn 28, or within three years of discovering the harm, whichever comes later. That cutoff arrives long before many survivors are able to speak.

This is a public summary. Speak with a licensed Michigan attorney about your specific situation.

How it affects survivors

The math does not match the trauma.

~20 yrs
Average delay before survivors disclose abuse
1 in 3
Survivors who never disclose during their lifetime
By 28
Michigan's deadline cuts off most survivors before they are ready
Why advocates want reform

Deadlines built without science.

Trauma delays disclosure — the science is settled, the law has not caught up.
Short SOLs shield institutions with the resources to run out the clock.
Other states (NY, NJ, CA) have already reformed. Michigan lags behind.
Lookback windows have delivered accountability without flooding the courts.
Reform FAQ

Common questions

Do statutes of limitations apply to criminal or civil cases?
Both. Criminal SOLs govern prosecution; civil SOLs govern lawsuits for damages. Reform efforts for survivors usually focus on extending the civil window.
Why do many states set a young age deadline?
Historically, lawmakers assumed survivors would come forward quickly. Research now shows most disclose only after decades — making short deadlines especially harmful.
What is a lookback window?
A temporary period when the courthouse door reopens for claims that would otherwise be time-barred, allowing survivors to file even if the standard deadline passed.
Would reform re-open old cases?
Lookback windows can allow previously barred claims to proceed for a limited time. The scope depends on what legislators pass — not all reform bills are identical.

Stand for reform.

Tell your legislators, share this page, and add your name to the list of people who want Michigan's deadline changed.

Sign The Petition