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What is it called when you miss a court date?

Joe Ford

What is it called when you miss a court date?

When you do not appear in court it is called a “failure to appear” (FTA). In addition, if you do not appear, a “civil assessment” of up to $300 may be added to your fine amount; you may be found guilty in absentia; your case may be referred for collection; or, the court may issue a warrant for your arrest.

What happens if you miss a hearing date?

So what happens when you miss your court hearing? The court may revoke your bond or worse issue a warrant of arrest and charge you with a new crime of “Failure To Appear”. Even if you were innocent of the initial charge, you will still be arrested for the act of missing the court date.

Is it bad to miss a court date?

Most commonly, the Court issues a bench warrant for your arrest if you miss your court date. The Court can set a bail amount that you can post to clear the warrant without being taken into custody, or simply issue the warrant and wait for you to be arrested and held to see the Judge.

What happens if you miss a court date you didn’t know about?

Missing the Court Date If you do not appear for a court hearing, the court will issue an FTA. Failure to appear can be its own criminal offense, a misdemeanor under California Vehicle Code 40508. Failing to appear can also result in a driver’s license suspension, fine, and bench warrant for your arrest.

What is a good excuse to miss court?

A valid emergency can serve as an excuse for missing a court date….Some examples of legitimate emergencies include:

  • An emergency room visit for a sudden, debilitating medical condition.
  • A sick child.
  • A motor vehicle accident.
  • A kidnapping.
  • The death of someone in your immediate family.

What happens if a person does not show up to court?

If You Fail to Appear for Court the Judge Will Issue a Warrant for Your Arrest. If you were charged with a relatively minor offense, such as a traffic ticket, and you fail to appear for court, the judge will issue a warrant for your arrest.

What happens if you don’t attend court hearing?

Generally speaking you should not have any serious consequences if you don’t actually attend the court. If this happens you are compelled to attend the court on the stated time and date. If you fail to attend the court after a witness summons has been issued, a warrant for your arrest would then be granted.