diff --git a/numpyro_sts/base.py b/numpyro_sts/base.py
index b71496e..b8bfa34 100644
--- a/numpyro_sts/base.py
+++ b/numpyro_sts/base.py
@@ -40,6 +40,19 @@ def _sample_shocks(
     return rotated_samples.reshape(batch_shape + event_shape)
 
 
+def _verify_parameters(offset, matrix, std, initial_value, std_is_matrix):
+    ndim = matrix.shape[-1]
+
+    assert initial_value.ndim >= 1
+    assert matrix.ndim >= 2 and matrix.shape[-2] == matrix.shape[-1] == ndim
+    assert initial_value.shape[-1] == matrix.shape[-1]
+
+    assert offset.shape[-1] == initial_value.shape[-1]
+
+    if std_is_matrix:
+        assert std.ndim >= 2 and std.shape[-1] == std.shape[-2] == ndim
+
+
 class LinearTimeseries(Distribution):
     r"""
     Defines a base model for linear stochastic models with Gaussian increments.
@@ -66,17 +79,6 @@ class LinearTimeseries(Distribution):
         "n": constraints.positive_integer,
     }
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _verify_parameters(offset, matrix, std, initial_value, std_is_matrix):
-        ndim = matrix.shape[-1]
-
-        assert initial_value.ndim >= 1
-        assert matrix.ndim >= 2 and matrix.shape[-2] == matrix.shape[-1] == ndim
-        assert initial_value.shape[-1] == matrix.shape[-1]
-
-        if std_is_matrix:
-            assert std.ndim >= 2 and std.shape[-1] == std.shape[-2] == ndim
-
     def __init__(
         self,
         n: int,
@@ -89,7 +91,7 @@ def __init__(
         column_mask: np.ndarray = None,
         validate_args=None,
     ):
-        self._verify_parameters(offset, matrix, std, initial_value, std_is_matrix)
+        _verify_parameters(offset, matrix, std, initial_value, std_is_matrix)
         times = jnp.arange(n)
 
         self._std_is_matrix = std_is_matrix