MA · Resolve a warrant

How do I resolve a warrant and turn myself in in Massachusetts?

No commercial bail

You have options. Here is the calm, step-by-step way to resolve a warrant in Massachusetts and turn yourself in on your own terms.

Last verified 2026-07-23Release Court-set releaseJurisdiction Massachusetts

The path to resolving a warrant in Massachusetts

You do not have to wait to be caught off guard. This is the ordered, on-your-own-terms way to handle it — each step points to an official source.

Step 1

Confirm the warrant with the court

In Massachusetts, a missed court date typically produces a 'default warrant.' Massachusetts has no public online warrant search, so confirm the warrant by contacting the clerk-magistrate's office of the District Court or Boston Municipal Court handling the matter; ask whether a default or arrest warrant is outstanding, and for the docket or warrant information, the charge, any court date, and any bail amount. Provide your full name and date of birth.
Official source
Step 2

Ask the court how to remove a default and have the matter re-heard

For a default warrant, courts have a procedure to remove the default and put the case back on the calendar — commonly by appearing at the clerk's office or filing a motion to remove the default. Ask the clerk-magistrate what that specific court requires. This is noted only as an available option, not as a recommended strategy. In Massachusetts, the warrant this applies to is typically a default warrant (the common Massachusetts term for a warrant issued when a defendant fails to appear in court), and only the court that issued it can recall or re-set it.
Official source
Step 3

Arrange to appear or self-surrender rather than wait for an unplanned arrest

Depending on the warrant and the court's instructions, you may be able to resolve it by appearing at the court that issued it. Call ahead to confirm the correct courthouse, session hours, and procedure before going. In Massachusetts, this is a matter of timing, not a legal outcome. The court may set bail.
Official source
Step 4

Bail is then addressed by a judge or bail magistrate

After surrender and booking, a judge — or, outside court hours, a bail magistrate — addresses release. Most people are released on personal recognizance or on cash bail posted directly with the court or jail. There is no bail bondsman in Massachusetts; the court must consider ability to pay when setting cash bail (Brangan v. Commonwealth).
Official source

Turning yourself in on your own terms in Massachusetts

Surrendering on your own terms means you choose the timing and location within the court's procedures, typically during regular court hours, rather than being taken into custody unexpectedly during a traffic stop or at home or work. This is a logistical consideration only and does not predict any legal result.

What to bring

A valid government-issued photo ID
Any court paperwork or the docket or warrant information you have
Funds for cash bail if an amount has been set — in Massachusetts this is paid directly to the court or jail, because there are no bail bondsmen
A written list of any medications you take
Contact information for a family member or friend who can help
Do not bring weapons, drugs, or other prohibited items into a court or jail

What to expect

Expect booking (fingerprints, photograph, and a records check) and a hold until you are seen by a judge (or a bail magistrate after hours) for arraignment, where release conditions or cash bail are addressed.

Processing times vary by court.

This is logistical information only.

In Massachusetts, the specifics depend on the case; in certain motor-vehicle-related matters, a default can be reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and affect your license, depending on the case.

How release works in Massachusetts

No commercial bail

In Massachusetts, there is no commercial bail-bond industry — no bondsman to hire and no bond premium to buy. A judge decides release, commonly on your own recognizance or on set conditions, and any money bail that is ordered is posted directly with the court.

Massachusetts effectively has no commercial bail-bond industry; commercial bail-bond services have effectively ended in the state (reported since about 2014).

After an arrest, bail is decided by a judge in court or, when court is not in session, by a bail magistrate (also called a bail commissioner) — a court-designated official, not a private bondsman — under the state's bail statute (M.G.L. c.

276).

Most people are released on personal recognizance (a written promise to appear) or on cash bail, which is posted directly with the court or the jail and is returned at the end of the case if the person makes all required appearances.

A bail magistrate who sets bail outside court hours charges a fixed statutory fee for that service.

Under the Supreme Judicial Court's 2017 decision in Brangan v.

Commonwealth, a judge who sets cash bail must consider the person's financial resources and ability to pay.

Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.

A few cautions before you go

Confirm the default or arrest warrant directly with the clerk-magistrate's office before acting; Massachusetts has no public online warrant lookup, and unofficial third-party 'warrant' or 'bail bond' sites do not reflect that Massachusetts has no commercial bail industry.
A warrant does not expire on its own; ignoring it leaves you subject to arrest at any law-enforcement contact.
Do not expect a bail bondsman in Massachusetts — any cash bail is posted directly with the court or jail, and personal-recognizance release is common.
Call the courthouse ahead of time to confirm the correct location, session hours, and procedure for removing a default.
Bring valid photo ID and any docket or warrant number so staff can locate your matter.

Contact the issuing court or county sheriff in Massachusetts

A warrant is issued by a court and served by the county sheriff — they are who can confirm it and tell you the exact way to resolve it. Start with these official Massachusetts sources.

Not sure you actually have a warrant?

Before you act, confirm whether one exists. warrant.guru walks through exactly how to check in Massachusetts.

Check for a warrant in Massachusetts Looking for someone in jail or prison? Find them

Common questions about resolving a warrant in Massachusetts

How do I resolve a warrant in Massachusetts?

Confirm the warrant with the court that issued it or the county sheriff, then work through these steps: Confirm the warrant with the court; Ask the court how to remove a default and have the matter re-heard; Arrange to appear or self-surrender rather than wait for an unplanned arrest; Bail is then addressed by a judge or bail magistrate.

How do I turn myself in in Massachusetts?

Does Massachusetts have commercial bail bondsmen?

No. Massachusetts has no commercial bail-bond industry, so there is no bondsman to hire. A judge decides release, commonly on recognizance or on conditions, and any money bail that is ordered is posted directly with the court.

What should I bring if I turn myself in in Massachusetts?

A valid government-issued photo ID; Any court paperwork or the docket or warrant information you have; Funds for cash bail if an amount has been set — in Massachusetts this is paid directly to the court or jail, because there are no bail bondsmen; A written list of any medications you take; Contact information for a family member or friend who can help; Do not bring weapons, drugs, or other prohibited items into a court or jail.

Sources & last verified

Everything here links out to official government or public-reference sources. We don't store or republish records.

Last verified 2026-07-23 · 6 sources