How to Clear an Arrest Warrant
The 19th District Court has jurisdiction in civil cases where the amount in dispute is less than $25,000.
In almost all cases, attorneys represent plaintiffs. However, plaintiffs do have the right to represent themselves.
To file a civil suit in Dearborn, one must contact the Civil Division of the 19th District Court to secure a summons and complaint form. The form calls for the plaintiff to describe the nature of the dispute and to explain the complaint about the defendant.
Also, for service of process, the plaintiff must know the complete name and address of the defendant. The plaintiff may elect to have the lawsuit served by any individual competent to do so pursuant to court rule and statute. The plaintiff must also provide the court with the complete name and address of the defendant.
The defendant has 21 days to respond after being served.
A warrant may be issued for an individual's arrest by the 19th District Court under several circumstances. If you receive a citation from a law enforcement officer in the city of Dearborn, and fail to properly resolve the matter, a warrant may be issued for your arrest. Any law enforcement officer may arrest you even if the reason for contact with the officer is unrelated to the warrant.
If the 19th District Court issues a warrant for your arrest, you will be notified in writing within fourteen days of issuance. The notice will be mailed to the address the court has on file. Even if you are not aware that a warrant exists, you will still be held liable for all of the terms and conditions of the warrant.
Types of Warrants
Following are circumstances for which a warrant may be issued for your arrest by the 19th District Court:
- Failure to appear for a show cause hearing.
- Failure to pay court-ordered fines and costs.
- Failure to comply with the Judge's sentencing order.
- Failure to obey terms of probation.
- Failure to complete a work program assignment.
- Failure to schedule an arraignment date
A warrant may also be issued if police believe a person has committed a crime and can show evidence which leads the judge to believe there is probable cause that he or she committed a crime.
Clearing the Warrant
If you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, or if you think you may have an outstanding warrant, the best course of action is to contact the court immediately. Any delays in clearing the matter could result in further court sanctions, costing you more money or jail time. You could also have your driving privileges suspended if the warrant was issued for a traffic infraction. If you are caught driving under these conditions, you will be guilty of another crime (e.g. driving with a suspended license), which will result in additional legal problems. If you have a warrant for your arrest, there are two ways to cancel it:
- If the offense is payable, you can simply pay it at the court and the warrant will be cleared.
- You may post a bond to appear before the judge for a future court date.
If you are incarcerated and you have an outstanding warrant with the 19th District Court, you can request a plea by mail. Contact the warrant division for more information regarding this option. You may also use the Court Innovations service where walk-in warrants are accepted at 8 a.m.