Boca Raton Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Boca Raton are issued by judges in the 15th Judicial Circuit when someone misses a court hearing or does not comply with a court order. Boca Raton is in the southern part of Palm Beach County, and all court matters go through the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court in West Palm Beach. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office serves bench warrants across the county, including in Boca Raton. You can look up active bench warrants through the clerk's online records search, the sheriff's office, or the FDLE statewide database. This page walks through how to search for, understand, and resolve bench warrants in Boca Raton.

Palm Beach County Clerk of Court

The Palm Beach County Clerk of Court handles all court records for Boca Raton. The clerk's main office is at 205 N. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Call (561) 355-2994 for general questions about bench warrants or court cases. The Palm Beach County Clerk website gives access to court records, search tools, forms, and public records request options. Staff at the clerk's office can look up a bench warrant by name or case number for Boca Raton residents.

When a judge in the 15th Judicial Circuit issues a bench warrant for someone in Boca Raton, the clerk records it in the system immediately. The warrant becomes part of the case file. Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge needs probable cause to issue any arrest warrant, including bench warrants. Electronic signatures have been allowed since 2013. The bench warrant stays active in the clerk's system until it is resolved. There is no automatic expiration.

The Boca Raton Police Department is at 100 NW 1st Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33432. Call (561) 368-6201. Local police can serve warrants in Boca Raton, but the Palm Beach County Sheriff handles most warrant service countywide. Both agencies share access to the same warrant databases.

Note: Boca Raton is in the southern part of Palm Beach County, and the main courthouse is in West Palm Beach about 45 miles north.

Search Boca Raton Bench Warrants Online

You can search for bench warrants in Boca Raton online through the Palm Beach County Clerk's website. Go to mypalmbeachclerk.com and use the court records search tool. You can look up cases by name, case number, or date filed. Results show the case type, charges, filing date, and warrant status. This search is free and open to anyone looking for bench warrant information in Boca Raton.

The Florida Statutes page is shown below and contains the laws that govern bench warrants in Boca Raton and across the state.

Florida Statute 901.02 defines how judges issue arrest warrants, which includes bench warrants for Boca Raton cases. The full text is available on the Florida Legislature website.

The FDLE database is another option. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs a wanted persons search that pulls data from all 67 Florida counties. It gets updated every 24 hours. You can search by first name, last name, or date of birth. FDLE cautions that search results should not be used as proof that a warrant is still active. Always verify with the Palm Beach County Clerk or Sheriff for Boca Raton warrants.

Palm Beach Sheriff and Boca Raton Warrants

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is at 3228 Gun Club Rd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406. Call (561) 688-3000. The sheriff serves bench warrants in Boca Raton and throughout Palm Beach County. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in Florida can serve a bench warrant from any county. A Boca Raton bench warrant can be served in any part of the state, on any day, at any time. There are no limits on when officers can act on an active bench warrant.

If you think you may have a bench warrant in Boca Raton, the wisest first step is to consult a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer who practices in the 15th Judicial Circuit can look up your case and advise you on the best course of action. In many cases, the attorney can file a motion to quash the warrant. This motion asks the judge to cancel the warrant and set a new court date for you. Courts tend to look favorably on people who come forward on their own through an attorney. Voluntary surrender at the Palm Beach County Jail is another way to get things moving.

Boca Raton Bench Warrant Penalties

Skipping court in Boca Raton triggers new charges. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failing to appear on a felony case is a third-degree felony with up to five years in prison. Failing to appear on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor that can bring up to one year in jail. These are added to the original case. They are not replacements. The bench warrant from Boca Raton creates a brand new legal problem on top of the one you already had.

Bench warrants in Boca Raton never expire. They persist in the system until one of three things happens. The person gets arrested. The judge recalls the warrant. Or the person dies. That is it. Search warrants are different. Under Florida Statute 933.05, search warrants expire after just 10 days. Bench warrants have no such time limit. A bench warrant from years ago in Boca Raton is still active today. It shows up in every law enforcement database check, traffic stop, and license inquiry in Florida.

Resolving Boca Raton Bench Warrants

You have options when it comes to clearing a bench warrant in Boca Raton. The recommended first step is to get a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer in Palm Beach County can review the facts and file a motion to quash or recall the warrant. The judge then decides whether to cancel the warrant and set a new court date. This path avoids the arrest and booking process. It works well for old warrants and for cases where the original charge was not too serious.

Options for resolving a Boca Raton bench warrant:

• Hire an attorney to file a motion to quash the warrant
• Turn yourself in at the Palm Beach County Jail
• Call the sheriff at (561) 688-3000 for warrant details
• Contact the clerk at (561) 355-2994 for case info

Be aware of scam calls. No law enforcement officer in Boca Raton or Palm Beach County will ever call you and demand payment over the phone to clear a bench warrant. Gift cards, wire transfers, and prepaid cards are never part of the process. If you get a call like that, it is a scam. Hang up and call the clerk or sheriff to verify. Under Florida Statute 88.3051, the court can issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment for someone who fails to appear after proper notice. All bench warrants in Boca Raton are public records under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119.

Boca Raton Warrant Records Access

All bench warrants in Boca Raton are public records under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. The Sunshine Law ensures court records stay open to everyone. Once the clerk files a bench warrant, any person can request to see it. You do not have to be part of the case. Juvenile cases and sealed records have some limits, but the vast majority of bench warrants in Boca Raton are fully available for public search. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association connects all 67 county clerk offices and shares court data statewide.

The eWarrants system links police, state attorneys, clerks, judges, and sheriffs across Florida. A bench warrant from Boca Raton appears in law enforcement databases used by every agency in the state. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or the state attorney can prepare a direct capias to bring a person before the court for sentencing or adjudication. This is another tool used in Palm Beach County when someone with a Boca Raton case misses an important court date. Between the clerk's records, the FDLE database, and the eWarrants system, bench warrants in Boca Raton are tracked from every angle.

Palm Beach County Bench Warrants

Boca Raton is in Palm Beach County, and all bench warrants go through the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in West Palm Beach. Palm Beach County is one of the largest in Florida with over 1.5 million people. For more on the county court system, warrant search tools, and related resources, visit the Palm Beach County bench warrants page.

View Palm Beach County Bench Warrants

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Boca Raton and have their own bench warrant search pages with local details.