A bench warrant may already be active — but it’s not too late to fix it.
You meant to go. You forgot the date. You moved and never got the notice. Whatever happened, you just realized you missed your court date — and you’re not sure what to do next.
Take a breath.
At EHG Law Firm, we help people across Metro Atlanta clear Failure to Appear (FTA) charges, lift bench warrants, and avoid arrest. The biggest danger isn’t the missed court date — it’s what you do (or don’t do) next.
Here are the three biggest mistakes to avoid if you’ve missed court in Georgia.
Mistake #1: Ignoring It and Hoping It Goes Away
We get it — this is the part where your stomach sinks and you’re tempted to delay. But in Georgia, a missed court appearance often means a bench warrant has already been issued for your arrest.
Warrants do not expire.
That means you could be:
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Arrested during a traffic stop
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Picked up at your home or job
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Jailed over a misunderstanding you thought was minor
And it doesn’t stop there. DDS may suspend your license, especially if the missed hearing was for a traffic or DUI charge. The longer you wait, the more serious the consequences get.
Mistake #2: Turning Yourself In Without a Plan
Some people think the best move is to go turn themselves in at the jail on a traffic FTA. But that can lead to:
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Being held without bond
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Missing more work or childcare
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Getting no credit for being cooperative
There’s often a better way. In many cases, we can:
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File a motion lift the bench warrant
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Schedule a hearing to address the FTA
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Resolve the FTA without you having to appear and without an arrest
Judges are typically more receptive when you take steps to fix the issue the right way — before law enforcement steps in.
Mistake #3: Guessing What Your Court Requires
Every traffic court in Georgia handles FTAs a little differently. Some may let you walk in and request a new court date. Others require you or your lawyer to appear in court.
We’ve seen people:
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Show up expecting to be heard — and end up taken into custody
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Call the wrong number and get bad advice
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Delay because they thought they’d get a letter (they didn’t)
You may not need a lawyer for every FTA — but guessing about your next step can backfire. We help people avoid that risk by contacting the right people, filing the right motions, and getting things back on track quickly and safely.
A Real Example: Warrant Lifted, License Saved
A client called us after missing court in Atlanta Municipal Court on a traffic ticket. By the time he realized, his license had already been suspended by DDS and a bench warrant had been issued.
We moved fast. Filed the right motion. Got the court to lift the warrant. Worked with DDS to get his license reinstated. And appeared on his behalf in court — with no additional jail time and no conviction on his record and no required court appearance.
We Handle FTAs Across Metro Atlanta
We regularly clear bench warrants and handle FTAs in:
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Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County courts
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City courts like Marietta, Decatur, Chamblee, East Point, and Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, South Fulton, East Point, Alpharetta, Roswell, Smyrna, Tucker, Dunwoody, Snellville, and many more
Whether it was a traffic case, a DUI, or a misdemeanor, we know how to help.
Don’t Let a Missed Date Turn Into a Life-Changing Arrest
The worst thing to do right now is nothing. A missed court date is a legal emergency — but it’s one we know how to fix.