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Missing a scheduled court date in Michigan can lead to severe consequences. Failing to appear in court can complicate your legal situation, whether it’s due to confusion, an emergency, or simply forgetting. Understanding what happens when you miss a court date and how to resolve it is crucial to minimize potential penalties.

At Ben Hall Law, our East Lansing criminal defense lawyer can help. Here’s what you need to know.

Michigan Court Date

Immediate Consequences of Missing a Court Date in Michigan

When you miss a court appearance, the judge will typically issue a bench warrant for your arrest. This allows law enforcement to take you into custody immediately if they locate or stop you for any reason.

Depending on your original charge, you may also face additional charges. For example, if you were dealing with a misdemeanor or felony, the court can charge failure to appear as a separate offence, which may increase your penalties.

Other consequences may include:

  • Driver’s License Suspension: If your case involves traffic or driving offences, the Michigan Secretary of State may suspend your licence until you resolve the missed court date. Driving while suspended can lead to further charges.
  • Forfeiture of Bond: If you posted bond for your release, the court may forfeit it after a missed appearance. This means you lose that money and may need to post a new bond, often at a higher amount.

What to Do If You Miss Your Michigan Court Date

Your first step is to contact your criminal defence attorney. They can guide you through what to do next, help prevent the warrant from being executed, and work to reduce the impact on your case.

If you do not have an attorney, contact Ben Hall Law straight away. Our East Lansing criminal defense lawyer can explain your options and guide you through the next steps.

They include:

  • Turning Yourself In: This may feel daunting, but voluntarily turning yourself in shows good faith. Acting quickly can lead to better outcomes, such as a faster bond release or a rescheduled hearing.
  • Requesting a Hearing to Recall the Warrant: Our attorney can file a motion to recall the bench warrant and request a hearing. At that hearing, you can explain why you missed your court date. Providing evidence of an emergency or valid reason can improve your chances of having the warrant lifted.
  • Explaining Your Absence: We will present your explanation to the court. Valid reasons such as a medical emergency, car accident, or confusion about the date can support your case. We will help you gather the right evidence.

Once you resolve the missed court date, you must attend all future appearances. To avoid missing another date, use a calendar with reminders, set alarms, and plan your transport in advance.

Missing court disrupts proceedings and may signal to the judge that you are avoiding responsibility. This can affect how the judge views your case and may lead to harsher penalties if you are convicted.

Contact Our Criminal Defense Attorney in Michigan Today

If you have missed a court date, act quickly. Contact our experienced Michigan criminal defense attorney to help you address the issue, clear the warrant, and protect your rights. Call (877)-236-4255 or contact us online. Your fight is our fight. Let’s get started.

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“Mr. Hall was a huge help. Being a former police officer and a former prosecutor was evident in his knowledge of both traffic and criminal laws. Even when I was willing to accept an initial plea deal, he knew that there was so little evidence against me that we should counter the offer. I went from a potential criminal case to a fine and 0 points. I could not be happier with my outcome. Thank you Mr. Hall!”

Anonymous

“I had an excellent experience with this law office. Ben Hall was able to handle my situation promptly and thoroughly, I was thankful we were able to avoided the hassle of going to court. I was looking for housing and if that isn’t an overwhelming task in itself, once I found a place that had vacancies they did not want to allow my support dog and the lady responsible for processing my application began sending me in circles and improperly handled the application process. It was to the point I didn’t think I was going to get housing when I contacted Ben Hall. He dove right in and explained to me the process and options and he guided me how to proceed and also contacted the housing development and let them know what their options were and how this was going to go if they continued to unjustly process my application… I received housing promptly with no further issues! So thankful for this option to pay such a minimal fee to have a lawyer in your corner and build a relationship with them. In a world were nothing is for sure it is a comfort to have such ease of access with this law office.”

Melinda

“Ben was very generous with his time and expertise. He asked straightforward questions and offered excellent options to meet our objectives. Amazing turn around on short deadlines. We needed a legal opinion dealing with a conflict of interest on a local school board. WOW! Ben really understood the issues andbour concerns. He produced an amazing 8 page opinion in in a weeks time. And he worked with us on minimizing legal fees.”

Dave

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