Find Orlando Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Orlando are handled through the Orange County court system. The Orange County Clerk of Courts and the Orange County Sheriff's Office track and serve warrants for the city. You can search for active bench warrants in Orlando through the clerk's online records portal, the sheriff's criminal process section, or the FDLE statewide database. Orlando is the county seat of Orange County and sits in the 9th Judicial Circuit. With a population of nearly 335,000, the courts process a high volume of criminal and civil cases each year. Bench warrant records in Orlando are public under Florida law and anyone can search them.

Orange County Clerk and Orlando Warrants

The Orange County Clerk of Courts maintains all court records for Orlando. The main office is at 425 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801. The phone number is (407) 836-2000. All bench warrants issued by judges in the 9th Judicial Circuit go through this clerk's office. Orlando does not have a separate city court for criminal matters. Everything flows through the county.

The clerk's online portal lets you search court records from home. You can look up cases, pay tickets, and check criminal case fees online. Registered users can access confidential and non-public information. Attorneys get a special "My Cases" feature. For general public searches, you can look up cases by name or case number. The Orange County Courthouse is at 425 N. Orange Avenue, the same building as the clerk. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring a photo ID if you plan to visit in person.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge issues a bench warrant when probable cause exists. In Orlando, the warrant goes into the clerk's system as soon as the judge signs it. The clerk also handles direct capias warrants under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730. These are prepared by the clerk or state attorney to bring a defendant before the court.

Orange County Sheriff and Orlando Warrants

The Orange County Sheriff's Office serves bench warrants across the county, including Orlando. The general number is (407) 254-7000. The non-emergency line is (407) 836-4357. The Criminal Process Section handles warrants and can be reached at (407) 836-4510. Phone hours for warrant verification are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. The sheriff's office does not have a dedicated public warrant search tool online. Verification is done mostly by phone or in person.

The sheriff's mailing address is PO Box 1440, 2500 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32802. You can also check at the Orange County Courthouse at 425 N. Orange Avenue. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in Florida can serve a bench warrant from any county. A warrant out of Orlando can be enforced anywhere in the state. The arrest can happen at any time and on any day of the week.

The Orlando Police Department website is shown below. City officers enforce bench warrants during routine interactions with the public.

The Orlando Police Department is at 100 S. Hughey Ave., Orlando, FL 32805. The phone number is (407) 246-2470. Orlando PD officers can arrest anyone with an active bench warrant during traffic stops, calls for service, or any other encounter. The warrant does not have to be from Orlando or Orange County. Any active Florida warrant triggers an arrest.

Note: Appearing in person at the sheriff's office to check for warrants carries risk, since an active warrant could lead to immediate arrest on the spot.

Orlando Bench Warrant Penalties

Failing to show up for court in Orlando carries harsh consequences. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failure to appear on a felony charge is a third-degree felony. Up to five years in prison. Failure to appear on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor. Up to one year in jail. These are new charges stacked on top of the original case. The bench warrant makes things worse, not better.

Bench warrants in Orlando do not expire. They remain active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the person dies. A warrant from last year or from a decade ago is still valid. Search warrants are different. Under Florida Statute 933.05, search warrants expire after 10 days. Bench warrants do not have any time limit at all. If you have one in Orlando, it stays in the system. Any run-in with law enforcement anywhere in Florida can lead to your arrest.

Resolving Orlando Bench Warrants

If you have a bench warrant in Orlando, get a lawyer first. A criminal defense attorney can review your case and help you decide what to do. Attorneys can file a motion to quash or recall the bench warrant, which works best for minor charges or old cases. Voluntary surrender almost always leads to better outcomes than an arrest on the street or during a traffic stop.

Options for resolving a bench warrant in Orlando include:

• Hire a defense attorney to file a motion to quash
• Surrender at the Orange County Jail
• Call the Criminal Process Section at (407) 836-4510
• Check the clerk's portal for case details
• Search the FDLE database to confirm warrant status

Under Florida Statute 88.3051, a court can issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment when someone fails to appear after proper notice. Bench warrants in Orlando are public records under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, the Sunshine Law. Anyone can request to see them. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers network helps share data across all 67 counties.

Orlando Warrant Records Access

Bench warrants in Orlando are public records. Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119, gives everyone the right to access court records. You do not need to be part of the case. Juvenile records and sealed cases are exceptions, but most bench warrants in Orlando are open to the public. The FDLE statewide wanted persons database at fdle.state.fl.us pulls data from all Florida counties every 24 hours. It includes bench warrants, arrest warrants, capias warrants, and violation of probation warrants.

The eWarrants system ties together police, state attorneys, clerks, judges, and sheriffs in Orlando and statewide. A bench warrant filed in Orange County shows up across the state for any law enforcement officer to see. This system makes it very hard to avoid an active bench warrant in Florida.

Orange County Bench Warrants

Orlando is the county seat of Orange County. All bench warrants in the city flow through the 9th Judicial Circuit Court. For more details on the county clerk, sheriff, and court resources, visit the Orange County bench warrants page.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Orlando. Each has its own county court system that handles bench warrants. Always verify which county has jurisdiction.