Between November and December 2025, the rules for post-conviction relief changed across federal court, North Carolina, and Tennessee. New deadlines now bar claims that once could be filed years later, while other long-closed doors have finally opened. This update explains what changed, when it changed, and why 2026 is the year timing matters most for anyone considering post-conviction relief.

Post-conviction relief can be the key to freedom after appeals have ended. In this guide, we break down how the rules, deadlines, and requirements differ in Tennessee, North Carolina, and federal court.