If you missed court in your Las Vegas criminal case, you can be sure the judge issued a bench warrant for your arrest. Anytime you violate the terms of your pretrial release or probation, the court will demand you be hauled into court to answer for it.
Once you have a bench warrant in Las Vegas, the police can search for and arrest you. You can usually bail out if you are arrested, though some judges require you to remain in custody until the judge can see you.
The only way in Nevada to get a bench warrant recalled – or “quashed” – is to file a motion with the court and have a hearing in front of the judge. Unless you have a history of disobeying the court, most judges agree to quash bench warrants as long as you or your attorney shows up to the hearing.
Then once your bench warrant is “quashed,” your underlying criminal case will proceed as it had before. Though sometimes judges add conditions such as electronic monitoring to deter you from defying the court again.
Note that bench warrants are different from arrest warrants.
Arrest warrants mark the beginning of a criminal case, and they are issued for people suspected of a crime. In contrast, bench warrants can be issued anytime during a case, and they are issued for people suspected of disobeying court orders.
In this article, our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys will address the following key issues regarding Nevada bench warrants:
- 1. Quashing a Bench Warrant
- 2. Do I have one?
- 3. Why You Have a Bench Warrant
- 4. Getting Arrested
- 5. Bailing Out
- 6. Are bench warrants a crime?
- 7. Driver’s License Suspensions
- 8. Contempt
- 9. Out-of-State Residents and Extradition
- 10. Statute of Limitations
- 11. Voluntary Surrender v. Traffic Stop Arrests
- 12. Immigration Consequences
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Resources
1. Quashing a Bench Warrant
The only way to make a Nevada bench warrant go away is for a judge to quash it at your request. Bench warrants never “expire,” and you cannot simply “pay them off.”
Below are the five steps for quashing a bench warrant in Las Vegas.
Step 1. Hire an Attorney
You can try to quash your bench warrant yourself. However, judges are more likely to give you a second chance to stay out of custody if you have an attorney.
In the event you have more than one bench warrant, an attorney may be able to resolve all of them at the same time.
Step 2: File a Motion to Quash
Your attorney composes and files a “motion to quash” with the proper Nevada court. This motion asks the judge to hold a hearing so your attorney can argue for having your warrant recalled.
The court clerk will usually schedule this hearing within a week. During this waiting period, you can still get arrested.
Therefore lie low and try not to drive. Also, do not visit friends or family in jail: Jail guards may run your name to check your warrant status.
Step 3: The Court Holds a Hearing
One of the advantages of hiring private counsel is that you can usually skip the motion quash hearing as long as your criminal defense lawyer appears on your behalf. However, the judge may require you to appear in person if:
- your case involves a felony,
- you have a lengthy criminal history,
- you are a flight risk or public safety threat, and/or
- there was no satisfactory excuse for you defying court orders.
Note if you do appear in person, you risk the judge remanding you into custody for the remainder of your case.
Step 4: The Judge Recalls the Warrant
At the hearing, the judge may ask your attorney if you had “good cause” to violate court orders. Common examples of “good cause” may include:
- there was an unavoidable emergency,
- you were very ill,
- the court gave you incorrect information, never notified you, or sent your notice to appear to an old address, or
- you lost your job, leaving you unable to pay the fines.
We can also present “mitigating evidence” that shows you in a less blameworthy light. An example is that you have been otherwise compliant with all court orders up until this point.
In our experience, Nevada judges usually recall bench warrants right away without asking many questions during the hearing. Judges are also often open to giving you an extension on paying fines or setting up a payment plan.
Ultimately, the clerk will then give you a new court date, and your underlying criminal case will proceed as before.
Note that if your bench warrant had a bail amount attached to it, your attorney will ask the judge to “exonerate the bail.” Once the bail is exonerated, you are no longer obligated to pay it.
Step 5: Remain out of Trouble
Once your warrant gets quashed, be sure to follow all of the court’s orders while your case remains open. This includes:
- appearing for all future court dates (unless the court allows your attorney to appear on your behalf),
- paying all fines on time, and
- complying with everything else the court directed you to do, such as rehab, counseling, community service, etc.
People with outstanding bench warrants risk being arrested at any time.
2. Do I have one?
You can usually conduct an online search to learn if you have an outstanding Nevada bench warrant.
If your case is in Clark County (which includes Las Vegas), click on the applicable court website below. You can also call the court, but you are advised to have an attorney call on your behalf so you are not traced.
| Clark County Court | Warrant Status Check Information |
| Las Vegas Justice Court |
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| Las Vegas Municipal Court |
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| Henderson Municipal Court | |
| North Las Vegas Municipal Court |
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| Boulder City Municipal Court |
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| Mesquite Municipal Court |
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Justice Courts for:
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If your case is outside of Clark County, do an internet search for the applicable court name and search on its website’s “case lookup” option.
Many people have bench warrants for years without knowing about it. We see cases all the time where someone is pulled over for a minor traffic violation, and they are stunned when the police run their name, find a warrant, and proceed to arrest them.
A bench warrant is “pending” when the court has issued it, but the police have not yet executed it.
3. Why You Have a Bench Warrant
In Nevada, judges issue bench warrants for your arrest if you either:
- skip a court appearance in your criminal case (such as your arraignment, pretrial conference, status check, preliminary hearing, trial, or sentencing) in violation of NRS 175.201,
- miss a payment for a fine, restitution, or child support,
- violate your probation or parole terms, or
- fail to comply with any other court order.1
Judges can issue bench warrants without giving you prior notice first. So if you defied a court order – such as by missing court – it is almost guaranteed you have a bench warrant.
If your Nevada case involves only a civil traffic infraction (not a misdemeanor or felony traffic offense), the judge will not issue a criminal bench warrant simply because you failed to appear or missed a payment. Instead, the court will typically enter a default judgment and impose civil penalties or administrative license consequences.
4. Getting Arrested
Under NRS 171.106, a bench warrant may be executed by any peace officer in the state of Nevada.
This means you can be taken into custody at your home, your workplace, or during a routine traffic stops for minor infractions. The police may intend only to cite you, but once they run your name and find an active warrant, they will arrest you immediately.
If you have a bench warrant in a misdemeanor case, Nevada police will probably not go out and search for you. Though if you are accused of a felony, police are far more likely to track you down at home, work, or anywhere else you may be.
If you fail to appear for a required court date or trial, the judge will issue a bench warrant pursuant to NRS 175.201.
5. Bailing Out
Some Nevada bench warrants are “no bail” bench warrants. This means if you get arrested, you must remain in jail until the judge can see you in court.
Other bench warrants have bail amounts attached to them, which means the jail will release you following your arrest once you post bail. However, we may be able to persuade the judge to release you on your own recognizance (“O.R.”), which means you do not have to pay anything.
The judge may also impose various bail conditions you must follow, such as abiding by curfew or wearing an electronic monitoring anklet.
6. Are bench warrants a crime?
Having a bench warrant is not a Nevada crime in and of itself. Though if the reason for the bench warrant was that you skipped court, prosecutors under NRS 199.335 can charge you with failure to appear (FTA) once 30 days pass after your missed court appearance.2
As the following table shows, the penalties for FTA depend on your underlying charge:
| Underlying Criminal Charge | Nevada Penalties for FTA |
| At least one misdemeanor (and no felonies or gross misdemeanors) | Misdemeanor: Up to 6 months in jail and/or $1,000* |
| At least one gross misdemeanor (and no felonies) | Gross Misdemeanor: Up to 364 days of jail time and/or $2,000* |
| At least one felony | Category D felony: 1 to 4 years in Nevada State Prison and up to $5,000 |
| * If you left Nevada with the intent to avoid prosecution, then FTA is instead charged as a category D felony carrying 1 to 4 years in prison and up to $5,000. | |
Many bench warrants are executed during traffic stops.
7. Driver’s License Suspensions
In Nevada, bench warrants typically do not cause your driver’s license to be suspended.
Note that if you miss court for a criminal traffic citation, and you fail to resolve the case after a 30-day grace period, the DMV may suspend your license. The suspension would remain in effect until the court tells the DMV that the case has resolved (usually by paying a fine).3
8. Contempt
Another option Nevada judges have if you allegedly violate court orders is to hold you in “civil contempt.” This typically carries a penalty of up to $500 and/or 25 days in jail, and the judge holds you in contempt until you follow the court orders.
A common reason for civil contempt is refusing to testify before a grand jury. In this case, penalties include up to six months in jail or the length of time until the grand jury is discharged (whichever is less).4
Ignoring a court-ordered subpoena can result in a bench warrant for civil contempt under NRS 22.100.
9. Out-of-State Residents and Extradition
Many people who visit Las Vegas go home only to discover they have an active bench warrant in Nevada for an unpaid ticket or missed court date. If you are an out-of-state resident, your home state’s police can arrest you on a Nevada warrant. Whether Nevada will choose to transport you back (extradition) depends on the severity of the underlying charge.
Nevada will typically authorize extradition for felony warrants. For minor misdemeanors or traffic violations, Nevada usually will not extradite you. However, you will be classified as a “fugitive from justice,” and the non-extraditable warrant will remain on your record, potentially causing your driver’s license to be suspended or leading to repeated detentions by local police every time your name is run.
Fortunately, a Las Vegas criminal defense attorney can usually appear in court on your behalf to quash the warrant without you needing to travel back to Nevada.
10. Statute of Limitations
There is no statute of limitations on bench warrants in Nevada. Once a judge signs a bench warrant, it remains active indefinitely until either:
- it is cleared by the court,
- you are arrested, or
- you voluntarily surrender.
Warrants do not “expire” or simply go away over time. Even if decades have passed since the original court date, a routine traffic stop or background check can still trigger an immediate arrest.
11. Voluntary Surrender vs. Traffic Stop Arrests
We see a difference in how courts treat defendants who proactively clear their warrants versus those who are caught hiding.
If you hire an attorney to file a “motion to quash” or you voluntarily surrender to the court, the judge is much more likely to show leniency, release you on your own recognizance (O.R.), and recall the warrant.
Conversely, if you ignore the warrant and are unexpectedly arrested during a routine traffic stop, the judge will view you as a flight risk. In these cases, you are much more likely to be held in custody with a high bail amount until your case resolves.
12. Immigration Consequences
For non-citizens, having an active bench warrant can lead to severe immigration consequences.
If you are undocumented, an arrest on a bench warrant can trigger an ICE hold (immigration detainer) at the Clark County Detention Center, leading to deportation proceedings.
Even for legal permanent residents or visa holders, an active warrant can delay or jeopardize applications for:
- naturalization,
- green card renewals, or
- re-entry into the United States.
It is crucial to clear the warrant before dealing with USCIS.
Bench warrants remain active until the judge quashes them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I hire an attorney to remove my bench warrant in Nevada?
Yes. Hiring an attorney often helps you avoid having to appear in court personally and increases your chances of getting the warrant removed without being held in custody.
What happens if I ignore my bench warrant?
Bench warrants never expire and cannot be “paid off.” They remain active until a judge officially quashes them.
You can be arrested at any time during routine traffic stops, and the warrant will show up on background checks, potentially affecting employment, housing, and other opportunities.
Can I be arrested at my home or work if I have a bench warrant?
Yes, police can search for and arrest you anywhere if you have an active bench warrant. For misdemeanor cases, police typically will not hunt you down, but for felony cases, they are more likely to track you down at home, work, or other locations.
How long do you stay in jail for a bench warrant in Nevada?
The amount of time you spend in jail depends on the underlying charge and whether the judge issued a “no bail” hold.
If there is a set bail amount, you can be released as soon as the bail is posted. If the judge ordered a “no bail” bench warrant, you will remain in custody until your attorney can schedule a hearing and ask the judge to set bail or release you on your own recognizance. Depending on the court’s schedule, this can take several days.
Can I just pay off my bench warrant?
In some cases, yes. If your bench warrant was issued exclusively for unpaid traffic tickets or minor fines, paying the outstanding balance in full will often clear the warrant automatically. However, if the warrant was issued for missing a mandatory court appearance, failing to complete court-ordered classes, or violating probation, you cannot simply pay it off; a judge must formally quash it during a hearing.
Will a bench warrant show up on a background check?
Yes. Active bench warrants are public record and will almost always appear on criminal background checks conducted by employers, landlords, and licensing boards. The background check will typically show the underlying charge alongside the active warrant status.
Once the warrant is quashed, it will no longer show as “active,” though the underlying criminal case will remain on your record until it is sealed.
How much does it cost to clear a bench warrant in Las Vegas?
The cost to clear a bench warrant includes the attorney’s fees (which vary based on the complexity of the case) plus any underlying fines, court fees, or bail amounts required by the judge. Hiring a defense attorney is often more cost-effective in the long run, as they can frequently persuade the judge to waive late fees, reduce bail requirements, and keep you out of jail so you do not miss work.
What if I miss my court date in my DUI case?
Contact your attorney right away so they can file a motion to quash as soon as possible.
If it is your first failure to appear, the judge may quash the bench warrant without any penalty. Otherwise, the judge is likely to impose more bail conditions such as wearing a SCRAM anklet. In extreme cases, the judge can even order you into custody until your case resolves.
Additional Resources
For more information, refer to the following:
- National Crime Information Center – The FBI’s centralized database for accessing criminal justice information, including warrants.
- SearchQuarry.com – Public record provider with warrant searches by name, city or county.
- Vinelink.com – Free site to search for outstanding warrants and criminal records in participating states.
- PeopleFinders.com – Public records site providing warrant searches among other lookup services for a fee.
- CriminalWatchdog.com – Subscription service for continuous monitoring of criminal records and warrants.
Read our related article on types of warrants in Nevada.
Legal References
- See, for example, Jaeger v. State (1997) 113 Nev. 1275 (Judge issued a bench warrant where the defendant did not complete community service requirements); In re Mosely (2004) 120 Nev. 908 (Judge issued a bench warrant where the defendant defied terms of a plea bargain); Candelas v. State (Nev. App. 2025) No. 89655-COA (Judge issued a bench warrant when the defendant failed to appear at his sentencing hearing).
- NRS 199.335 – Failure to appear after admission to bail or release without bail. NRS 178.508 – Duties of court when defendant fails to appear; procedure for issuing order of forfeiture; when forfeiture becomes effective; grounds for extending date of forfeiture.
- NRS 483.465 – Mandatory suspension of license when person violates promise to appear pursuant to citation: Notice; period of suspension.
- NRS 22.100 – Penalty for contempt.