# Checking for, and clearing, a warrant > Warrants don’t go away on their own. A bench warrant is usually for missing court or unpaid fines; an arrest warrant means police believe you committed a crime. Check through the county court or sheriff’s online search, call the clerk, or have a lawyer check. Talk to a lawyer before going in; they may get it recalled, set a new date or arrange a planned surrender. Courts don’t call demanding gift cards or wires to clear warrants; those calls are scams. - URL: https://explained.page/checking-for-a-warrant - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=checking-for-a-warrant ## Step by step 1. **Worried you might have a warrant?** Maybe you missed a court date or an unpaid ticket. Warrants don’t go away on their own, but they can often be cleared calmly. 2. **Know the two common kinds.** A bench warrant is usually for missing court or not paying fines. An arrest warrant means police believe you committed a crime. 3. **How to check.** Many county courts and sheriffs have online warrant or case searches. You can call the clerk of court, or have a lawyer check for you quietly. 4. **Talk to a lawyer before going in.** A lawyer may be able to get the warrant recalled, set a new court date, or arrange a planned surrender with a bail plan. Public defenders can help if you qualify. 5. **Many bench warrants can be cleared.** Often by going to court or a walk-in session, paying or setting up a plan for fines, or a judge recalling the warrant. Rules vary by court. 6. **Watch out for warrant scams.** Police and courts don’t call demanding payment by gift card, wire or crypto to cancel a warrant. Hang up and check with the court directly. 7. **Look it up the right way.** Search with your town or state in the words. Pick the official site: it usually ends in .gov. Skip ads and sites that charge for free forms. ## Checklist - Warrants don’t go away on their own - Know bench vs arrest warrants - Check online or with the clerk - Talk to a lawyer first - Ask about recall or a new date - Hang up on warrant scam calls ## Don’t ignore it Warrants usually stay active until resolved, and can surface during a traffic stop, travel or a background check. ## Common types - **Bench warrant:** issued by a judge, often for missing a court date or not paying fines or child support. - **Arrest warrant:** issued when police or prosecutors show a judge probable cause that you committed a crime. ## How to check - County court or sheriff websites often have online case or warrant searches. - Call the clerk of court for the county where the case would be. - Ask a lawyer to check quietly for you. ## Talk to a lawyer first A lawyer or public defender may be able to ask the judge to recall the warrant, set a new court date, or arrange a voluntary surrender with a bail plan, which often goes better than being picked up. ## Clearing bench warrants Many courts let you clear a bench warrant by appearing in court or at walk-in hours, paying or arranging a payment plan for fines, or having the warrant recalled. Procedures vary by court. ## Scam calls Callers claiming to be a sheriff or court officer who demand payment by gift card, wire or crypto to cancel a warrant are scammers. Hang up and call the court directly. ## Common questions ### Can I be arrested for a bench warrant over a traffic ticket? Yes, in many places. Clearing it quickly, often with a lawyer or at the court, is the best way to avoid that. Source page: https://explained.page/checking-for-a-warrant/questions/can-i-be-arrested-for-a-bench-warrant-over-a-traffic-ticket ### Do warrants expire? Usually not. Most remain active until the court resolves them. Source page: https://explained.page/checking-for-a-warrant/questions/do-warrants-expire ### How do I find out if I have a warrant? Check the county court or sheriff’s online search, call the clerk of court, or ask a lawyer to check for you. Source page: https://explained.page/checking-for-a-warrant/questions/how-do-i-find-out-if-i-have-a-warrant ### What is a bench warrant? A warrant issued by a judge, often because someone missed a court date or didn’t pay fines. Source page: https://explained.page/checking-for-a-warrant/questions/what-is-a-bench-warrant ### How do I clear a bench warrant? Often by appearing in court, paying or arranging to pay fines, or having a lawyer ask the judge to recall it. Procedures vary by court. Source page: https://explained.page/checking-for-a-warrant/questions/how-do-i-clear-a-bench-warrant ### Should I turn myself in on a warrant? Talk to a lawyer first. They can often arrange a planned surrender or recall that goes more smoothly. Source page: https://explained.page/checking-for-a-warrant/questions/should-i-turn-myself-in-on-a-warrant ### Do warrants go away over time? Usually not. Most stay active until the court resolves them. Source page: https://explained.page/checking-for-a-warrant/questions/do-warrants-go-away-over-time ### Is a call saying I have a warrant real? Courts and police don’t call demanding gift cards, wires or crypto. Those calls are scams; check with the court directly. Source page: https://explained.page/checking-for-a-warrant/questions/is-a-call-saying-i-have-a-warrant-real ## Official sources - [USA.gov: courts and legal help](https://www.usa.gov/) - [FTC consumer advice: government impersonation scams](https://consumer.ftc.gov/) - [Legal Services Corporation: free legal aid](https://www.lsc.gov/) To find your local office, search for: - "[your county] clerk of court case search" - "[your county] public defender" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). Life’s stuff, explained simply.