Tierce v. Ellis

Laws that stipulate a time limit under which a legal matter may be filed with a court are referred to as Statute of Limitation laws. These laws may be at the state or federal level, depending upon the issue. The intent is to eliminate legal proceedings in civil and criminal matters where the evidence may have been destroyed, the facts of the case may have become muddied with the passage of time, or some of the parties to the case may be deceased.

Child custody issues usually are determined in a family court at the state level. Custody of children may be addressed until the individual reaches the "age of majority." This varies depending on state law. A child may also be considered emancipated, another term meaning a person is a legally an adult, when he or she can effectively support him/herself financially. The marriage of a person also indicates emancipation. A court no longer has authority in custody issues after a person is considered emancipated.