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Check your AEDPA deadline - free, in about 20 seconds
Federal habeas petitions usually must be filed within one year. Enter a few case details and get a plain-English estimate of where you stand - so you can protect the calendar before anything else.
From Lozelle Lenoir at Habeas Helper. Built for families who need a clear calendar, not legal jargon.
- Free forever for the estimate
- No account required to check
- Not a law firm
- Not legal advice
Not legal advice. This is a simplified estimate for general information only - not legal advice and not a calculation of your actual deadline. Statutory tolling, state rules, and case-specific facts can change everything. Confirm every date inside the app and with a qualified attorney.
AEDPA window estimate
Local estimate only. We add one year to the date you enter. We do not apply tolling or court-specific rules.
This is a simplified estimate for general information only - not legal advice and not a calculation of your actual deadline. Statutory tolling, state rules, and case-specific facts can change everything. Confirm every date inside the app and with a qualified attorney.
Why this clock matters
Most federal habeas petitions have a one-year filing window. For many state convictions, that window is described in 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). For many federal convictions, it is described in 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f). Missing the window can close federal review. Families often learn this after months of gathering records.
This page helps you see the calendar in plain English so you can move sooner. It does not decide your case, and it does not replace a qualified attorney. Lozelle Lenoir built Habeas Helper so families can organize dates and next steps without pretending the tool is a law office.
How the estimate works
Choose a case type
Tell us whether this is usually a state conviction (§ 2254), a federal conviction (§ 2255), or you are not sure yet.
Enter an approximate finality date
Use the date the conviction became final on direct review, or your best estimate from the papers you have.
Read a plain-English estimate
We add one year to that date. We do not apply statutory tolling. You get a starting point, then confirm dates in the app and with counsel.
AEDPA deadline questions families ask
What is the AEDPA one-year window?+
AEDPA (the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act) generally gives one year to file a federal habeas petition after a conviction becomes final. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d) is the usual statute for state convictions. 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f) is the usual statute for federal convictions. The start date, pauses, and exceptions depend on the case. This page is a simplified estimate, not a legal deadline.
When does the clock usually start?+
Many families start from the date the conviction became final on direct review. For some cases that includes time after the last appeal, and sometimes extra days if no U.S. Supreme Court petition was filed. The right start date is in the court record. If you are unsure, enter your best estimate and treat the result as a starting point only.
What is statutory tolling?+
Statutory tolling can pause the federal one-year clock while a properly filed state post-conviction petition is pending. Whether a filing counts, and for how long, is case-specific. This estimate does not add or subtract tolling days automatically.
Does this calculator tell me my real deadline?+
No. It is a plain-English estimate for general information only. Statutory tolling, state rules, and case-specific facts can change everything. Confirm every date inside the app and with a qualified attorney.
What is the difference between a state conviction and a federal conviction here?+
A state conviction is often reviewed in federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, with the one-year idea in § 2244(d). A federal conviction is often reviewed under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, with the one-year idea in § 2255(f). The one-year idea is similar. The start date and exceptions can differ. Choose Not sure yet if you do not know.
Do I need an account or a credit card to check?+
No. You can run the estimate without an account and without a credit card. A free family plan lets you save dates and keep working. No credit card is required to start that plan.
Is Habeas Helper a law firm? Who is this from?+
No. Habeas Helper is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. Lozelle Lenoir built these tools so families can see the calendar in plain English and organize next steps. Talk with a qualified attorney about your case.
Email me the one-page AEDPA checklist
A one-page list of dates families usually gather first. Free. No credit card. We will not treat this as a request for legal advice.
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