What Happens When You Miss Court Dates?

If so, you could wind up with:

·         Jail time – Time in jail can vary from a few days, to a month on up to a year or more. The more you ignore court orders, the worse it is going to be for you.

·         Fines – The amount of fines you end up having to pay can vary from one extreme to the next. It could be thousands of dollars by the time all is said and done.

·         Bond revocation – If your bond is revoked, you could end up sitting behind bars until the judge determines what your final sentence is going to be.

·         License suspension – Losing your license can cause serious repercussions because it can take time and effort to get it back.

Tips:

If you have an approaching court date for a criminal matter that you were given a bond for, the judge is going to issue a warrant for your arrest immediately, unless you have legal representation that can explain your absence. Even with an attorney, you might be held in contempt if you aren’t there.

For those who have received a notice to appear, you want to contact your attorney right away. This is a serious document and could get you arrested, which is where an attorney can help protect your rights. Don’t go to the courthouse with representation or documents explaining your absence. In the event you are sent to jail, the criminal defense attorney can work to get the charges dropped or get you a bond. You need to understand the law and how it works to avoid getting stuck in the system.

Protect yourself. Do some research. Talk to an attorney and prepare for any situation that might occur. No one enjoys going to jail or court, but being prepared is far better than being in the dark. Know which attorney to call when you need legal representation to make sure you are being treated fairly. Many people end up falling through the cracks because they weren’t sure what to do or they simply used the wait and see approach.

Don’t leave your freedom up to someone else. Get an attorney, and make sure you are prepared.