Missing a court date rarely resolves itself quietly. Whether the consequence is minor or serious depends heavily on what kind of case it is and what the hearing was for. See our full Criminal Case Timeline for how a missed hearing fits into the bigger picture of a case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss a court date for a criminal case?
Failing to appear for a scheduled criminal hearing can result in a bench warrant for your arrest, forfeiture of any bond that was posted, and in some cases, an additional criminal charge for failure to appear. The consequences tend to escalate depending on the seriousness of the underlying case and whether this is a repeated pattern. If the date you missed was an arraignment, see what happens at an arraignment in Florida. If a bench warrant was issued, our Miami-Dade Warrant Search guide explains how to check for one without risking an arrest.
What happens if I miss a court date for a civil case?
In civil matters, missing a required hearing can result in a default judgment against you, meaning the other side wins automatically without the merits of the case being argued. Reversing a default judgment after the fact is possible in some circumstances but is not guaranteed and requires a separate motion.
What happens if I miss a court date for a traffic citation?
Missing a required court date for certain traffic matters, particularly those requiring a mandatory appearance, can result in a suspended license or an additional charge, separate from the underlying citation.
What if I missed a court date because of a genuine emergency?
Courts sometimes allow a warrant to be addressed without a new arrest if there is a valid reason and the situation is handled promptly, but this is not something to assume will happen automatically. It requires prompt action through an attorney.
What should I not do if I missed a court date?
Ignoring the situation and hoping it resolves without action is the worst option. A missed court date generally gets worse, not better, the longer it goes unaddressed.
What should I do if this has already happened?
If you missed a court date, addressing it quickly, before an arrest happens on the warrant, generally produces a better outcome than waiting to be picked up. An attorney can sometimes arrange to address the warrant directly rather than waiting for an arrest. See how the firm handles criminal cases on our Criminal Defense page.
What should I do if this applies to me right now?
The sooner this is addressed, the more options generally exist. The office keeps a 24-hour answering service for this kind of situation. The first consultation is free and confidential.