I Have a Warrant in Missouri — What Do I Do?
Finding out you have a warrant can be terrifying. Maybe a friend told you. Maybe you saw it on Missouri Case.net. Maybe you got pulled over for something minor and the officer told you there was an active warrant in the system. However you found out, the question is the same: what do I do now?
The worst thing you can do is ignore it. Warrants in Missouri do not expire. They do not go away on their own. They sit in the system until they are resolved, and they can result in your arrest at any time, during a routine traffic stop, at a traffic checkpoint, or even at your home or workplace.
Types of Warrants in Missouri
Failure to Appear (FTA) Warrant
This is the most common type. If you missed a court date — for a traffic ticket, a misdemeanor, or any other case — the judge likely issued an FTA warrant. In addition to the warrant itself, you may have been charged with a separate offense for failure to appear, and a hold may have been placed on your driver’s license.
Bench Warrant
A bench warrant is issued by a judge for a variety of reasons: failure to comply with a court order, failure to pay fines, or failure to complete court-ordered conditions like community service or treatment programs. The effect is the same as an arrest warrant — you can be taken into custody.
Arrest Warrant
An arrest warrant is issued when law enforcement has presented evidence to a judge showing probable cause that you committed a crime. This is different from an FTA warrant because it is based on allegations of criminal conduct, not just a missed court date.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
• You can be arrested at any time — during a traffic stop, at work, at home
• Your driver’s license may be suspended or have a hold placed on it
• The warrant shows up on background checks, affecting employment and housing
• Additional charges and fines accumulate the longer you wait
• If you are stopped in another jurisdiction, you may be held in jail until transported back
How to Resolve a Warrant Safely
The safest and most effective way to resolve a warrant is through an attorney. In most cases, your lawyer can contact the court, file a motion to recall the warrant, and arrange for you to appear voluntarily rather than being arrested unexpectedly. Depending on the court and the judge, this can sometimes be done within days.
For traffic ticket warrants, the process is often straightforward: your attorney enters an appearance, the warrant is recalled, and the underlying ticket is negotiated — often to a reduced charge with no points. For more serious warrants, your attorney can negotiate bond conditions or arrange a voluntary surrender on terms that minimize disruption to your life.
How to Check If You Have a Warrant
Missouri’s Case.net system (courts.mo.gov/casenet) allows you to search court records by name. Many municipalities also have their own warrant lookup systems. However, these databases are not always complete or up to date. If you suspect you have a warrant, the safest approach is to have an attorney check for you.
If you have a warrant in Missouri, do not wait for the knock on the door. Call Lee Law Firm at (314) 708-1720 for a free consultation. We can check your status, recall the warrant, and resolve the underlying case.