Understanding Bench Warrants
If you have recently discovered the court has issued a bench warrant for you, you probably have a lot of questions. It’s essential to keep yourself calm so that you can make the best possible choice for your situation. Once the court has issued a bench warrant, the police can show up and arrest you at any time.
You could get arrested at a traffic stop or if you have to contact the police for any reason. The good news is that you can take steps to protect yourself and improve your odds of getting a fair outcome, and a dependable criminal defense lawyer can help.
Bench Warrant Overview
A judge issues a bench warrant when you fail to appear for a court date. Even if you did not know you had to make a court appearance, you could find yourself facing a bench warrant if the judge believes you are avoiding the case. You can have a bench warrant if you miss a court date when you are a defendant, but the court can also issue a bench warrant if you witness a crime.
You could face contempt of court charges even if you were not facing any other criminal charge. The goal of a bench warrant is to get you to show up for the court date you missed. If the judge issues a bench warrant, the police will likely hold you in jail until the case ends to ensure you show up to each hearing. A bench warrant never expires. You could forget about the case and be arrested years later if you don’t resolve it.
How a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help
Contact a caring criminal defense lawyer if you even suspect you have a bench warrant. Your lawyer can contact the courts and find out if you have any warrants that need your attention, and your lawyer helps you resolve any issues as quickly as possible. In some cases, your lawyer can work with the courts to get your bench warrant removed as long as you don’t miss any more court hearings. In rare cases, your lawyer can go to court on your behalf so that you don’t have to show up, but also check with your legal expert before assuming you don’t have to go.
How to Get Legal Help for Broward Bench Warrants
You can’t afford to put a bench warrant off any longer than you have to. You don’t want to go about your daily life, wondering if you will get arrested, so let a caring and experienced criminal defense lawyer stand in your corner. Hager & Schwartz, P.A. can work with the courts and help you resolve your bench warrant without unneeded complications. In addition to addressing the bench warrant, we can defend you against any other charges you might be facing.
You gain confidence and peace of mind when we are by your side because we fight for your rights from start to finish. We look at every possible angle and use the approach that’s the most likely to get you a fair outcome in court.
If you are ready to protect yourself and put your worries to rest, call us today at (954) 840-8713 to learn how we can help you.