Last Updated on: 20th October 2023, 09:34 am

How to Check if You Have an Outstanding Federal Warrant: A Guide

Having an outstanding warrant can be a scary situation. You may not even know there’s a warrant out for your arrest until the police show up at your door. Thankfully, with the Internet, there are ways to search for warrants so you can get a heads up. This guide will walk you through the steps so you can see if you have any outstanding federal warrants.

What is a Federal Warrant?

A federal warrant is issued by a federal judge or magistrate judge. It authorizes federal law enforcement officers to arrest someone or search their property. Federal warrants are issued for federal crimes, like:

• Drug crimes
• White collar crimes like fraud
• Federal firearms charges
• Crimes committed across state borders

Federal warrants don’t expire, so if you have one, it will stay active until you’re arrested. The warrant gives law enforcement the power to take you into custody anywhere in the U.S.

Checking for Federal Warrants Online

There are a few websites that allow you to search for federal warrants. These sites compile warrant data from government sources. Here are some options:

1. SearchQuarry.com

SearchQuarry has a free federal warrant search. Just enter your name and state, and it will look through its database of public records. If your search brings up a possible match, you can pay $1.99 to get the full warrant details.

2. BeenVerified.com

BeenVerified also offers a free federal warrant search. Type in your name and state to see if anything comes up. For $0.95, you can view the complete warrant information.

3. TruthFinder.com

TruthFinder has a large database of public records that includes federal warrants. You can do an initial search for free. To see the full details, you’ll have to pay $28.05 per month for a membership.

The major downside with these sites is that they rely on public records. If a warrant is sealed or not yet in the system, it won’t show up in the search.

Checking Court Records

To be 100% sure whether you have a federal warrant, you’ll need to check the court records. You can call the District Court for the federal district where you live. Ask the clerk if there are any warrants out under your name and birth date.

You can also go to the court in person and have them check the records. Some federal court websites let you search their cases as well. But calling the court clerk is the best way to directly ask about warrants.

Hiring a Lawyer

Another option is to hire a criminal defense lawyer. Your lawyer can do a thorough search of the court records in your federal district along with state and national databases.

If your lawyer finds a warrant, they can start working on a defense strategy. Having a lawyer can really ease your mind so you don’t have to handle this alone.

What to Do If You Have a Warrant

Finding out you have a federal warrant can be scary. Here are some steps to take:

1. Don’t panic – Take a deep breath and focus on making a plan.
2. Contact a criminal defense attorney – They can walk you through your options.
3. Turn yourself in – In many cases, this is the best option to avoid being arrested in public.
4. Post bail – If bail is offered, you or your lawyer can arrange to post it.
5. Build your defense – Work with your lawyer to construct your defense strategy.
6. Consider pleading guilty – You may be able to negotiate a lighter sentence.

The most important thing is not to ignore a federal warrant. Work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to create a plan. They can help negotiate with prosecutors and work to get charges reduced or dismissed.

The Bottom Line

Finding out you have a federal warrant can be scary. But there are ways to search for them online and check court records. If you discover you do have one, stay calm and get a lawyer to help. They can walk you through your options. With the right legal guidance, you can work to resolve the situation properly. And going forward, obeying the law can help avoid warrants in the future.