What happens if I miss my hearing?

Failure to Appear in Court If you miss a court date, then there will likely be a warrant issued for your arrest. You could face additional penalties for failing to appear in court when you were required to. If you are not certain when you are required to appear in court, you should contact a lawyer from our firm.

What happens if you don’t attend a court hearing?

Failing to attend court is a separate offence for which you could receive a fine, be sent to prison, or both. If you do not attend your court hearing, when a new bail decision is to be made, the Court may be less likely to grant you bail and you would then have to wait in prison until the conclusion of your case.

What is an acceptable excuse for missing 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.

What happens if you accidentally miss a court date?

Call the court as soon as you can. Ask what happened when you missed court. Call a lawyer to get advice soon. If you miss court, the judge might give police a warrant that will let the police arrest you.

What happens if you miss a traffic court hearing?

If you miss a hearing in traffic court, the judge may issue a warrant for your arrest and notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the warrant. The DMV could send you a letter giving you two months to resolve your ticket before your driver’s license is suspended.

What to do if you cant go to a court hearing?

The attorney will relay whatever information you were intending to tell the judge at the hearing. Alternately, an attorney can ask the judge for an extension and cite your personal difficulties. If you are in a bind and don’t have time to send a letter, then you should contact a lawyer immediately.

How to apologize for missing a court date?

Opening the Letter. Always start the letter with a respectful introduction, such as “Dear Judge (full name)” followed by a colon. Then, apologize for missing the court date. Give the court date and the docket number so the judge can identify your case. Make sure you explain the circumstances for missing your court date.

What happens if you fail to appear in court?

In a serious criminal case, the judge also may request that police go to your home or work place to execute the warrant. Once in custody, you may have to stay in jail until a hearing on your failure to appear. Jail sentence and fines. A judge can impose a jail sentence or fines if you are found guilty of failure to appear or contempt of court.