How to resolve a warrant in Missouri

The path to resolving a warrant in Missouri

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 and identify the issuing court

Contact the circuit court clerk in the county where the charge or citation was filed, or that county's sheriff's warrants/records division, to confirm a warrant exists and to get the case or warrant number, the charge, any bond amount, and any scheduled court date.
Official source
Step 2

Ask the court about recalling a bench/failure-to-appear warrant

For a warrant issued because a court date was missed, ask the circuit clerk how that court re-sets the matter and how a warrant can be recalled. Asking the court to recall or quash the warrant is one available procedural option; this is noted only as an option, not as a recommended strategy. In Missouri, the warrant this applies to is typically a bench warrant / failure-to-appear (FTA) warrant — issued by a judge when a person misses a required court date or does not comply with a court order, and only the court that issued it can recall or re-set it.
Official source
Step 3

Arrange to appear or self-surrender on scheduled terms

Depending on the warrant and the court's instructions, you may resolve it by appearing in court on a re-set date or by surrendering at the county jail through the sheriff. Call ahead to confirm the correct location, hours, and procedure before going. In Missouri, this is a matter of timing, not a legal outcome. A bench/failure-to-appear warrant can lead to an additional failure-to-appear charge, and for unresolved traffic or municipal matters your driving privileges may be affected in some circumstances.
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Step 4

Booking, bond, and arraignment follow

After booking, a judge addresses release and bond under Rule 33. Where bond is set, it may be posted as cash or a secured bond directly with the court, or as a commercial surety bond through a licensed Missouri bail bond agent for a fee, depending on what the court allows.
Official source

Turning yourself in on your own terms in Missouri

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

What to bring

A valid government-issued photo ID
Any court paperwork, citation, or the case or warrant number you have
Funds or a payment method for a cash bond, or arrangements with a licensed Missouri bail bond agent if a commercial surety bond is used
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 to be booked (fingerprints, photograph, and a records check) and brought before a judge for arraignment, where release conditions and any bond are set.

Depending on the offense, release may be on recognizance, a cash or secured bond with the court, or a commercial surety bond through a licensed bail agent.

Processing times vary by county.

This is logistical information only.

In Missouri, the specifics depend on the case; any bond already posted may be forfeited.

How bail and release work in Missouri

Commercial bail available

In Missouri, commercial bail exists. If a judge sets money bail, it can be posted in cash with the court or through a licensed bail agent for a fee — and a judge may also release you on your own recognizance or on conditions.

Missouri has a legal commercial bail-bond industry.

After an arrest, a judge sets conditions of release under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 33.

Release can take the form of release on your own recognizance or a nonfinancial condition where the court allows it, a cash or secured bond posted directly with the court, or a surety (bail) bond posted through a licensed bail bond agent for a fee.

Bail bond agents and general bail bond agents in Missouri are licensed and regulated by the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Criminal and traffic cases are handled by the circuit courts, and bail is set and posted in the county where the case is filed.

A commercial surety bail bond carries a non-refundable premium paid to the bail agent, commonly around 10 percent of the face amount of the bond, though the exact figure can vary; confirm it with a licensed Missouri bail bond agent. A cash bond posted directly with the court is refundable at the end of the case, subject to any fees or amounts the court applies.

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

Missouri has no reliable statewide public active-warrant search; confirm the warrant directly with the circuit court clerk or county sheriff, and verify the record is yours before acting.
Use only a bail bond agent licensed by the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance; do not rely on unofficial third-party 'warrant lookup' or bail-lead websites.
A warrant does not expire on its own; ignoring it leaves you subject to arrest at any law-enforcement contact, and a missed court date on a traffic or municipal matter can affect your driving privileges in some circumstances.
Call the court or jail ahead of time to confirm the correct location, intake hours, and surrender procedure, which vary by county.

Contact the issuing court or county sheriff in Missouri

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 Missouri sources.

Not sure you actually have a warrant?

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

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

Common questions about resolving a warrant in Missouri

How do I resolve a warrant in Missouri?

Confirm the warrant with the court that issued it or the county sheriff, then work through these steps: Confirm the warrant and identify the issuing court; Ask the court about recalling a bench/failure-to-appear warrant; Arrange to appear or self-surrender on scheduled terms; Booking, bond, and arraignment follow.

How do I turn myself in in Missouri?

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

Does Missouri have commercial bail bondsmen?

Yes. Commercial bail exists in Missouri: licensed bail agents operate here, and if a judge sets money bail it can be posted in cash with the court or through a licensed bail agent for a fee. A judge may also grant own-recognizance or conditional release.

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

A valid government-issued photo ID; Any court paperwork, citation, or the case or warrant number you have; Funds or a payment method for a cash bond, or arrangements with a licensed Missouri bail bond agent if a commercial surety bond is used; 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 · 7 sources

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