Securing bail while you are on trial can be a great relief. There is just something about being free to carry on with your life. But bail is never an end to your legal troubles. One of the conditions you must meet while on bail is appearing in court for your trial or as otherwise directed by the judge.
People miss court for a variety of reasons. Perhaps, you were hospitalized or had a family situation that coincided with your court. Or, you simply forgot. Whatever the motivation, missing court is a big deal, and the consequences can be far-reaching.
What happens if you go missing?
Skipping bail comes with the following consequences:
Your bail money will be gone. If you paid money or signed off your property (like a car) as collateral for your freedom, do not expect it back if you skip bail. The court will keep the money. If your bail was paid by the bondsman or a family member, then they will lose that money or collateral, too. This means that you will owe someone money.
An arrest warrant will be issued against you – if you are a no-show in court when you ought to be, the court will give you a day or two to show up for your trial. If you don’t, an arrest warrant will be issued against you. And this means that you could spend the rest of your trial period in jail.
When you are out on bail, you do not want to get into any kind of trouble – including missing your court date. Find out how you can safeguard your rights and interests when facing a failure to appear charge.
