Nassau County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Nassau County are issued through the 4th Judicial Circuit when someone fails to appear for court or does not follow a court order. The Nassau County Clerk of Court in Yulee keeps all official court records, and the Sheriff's Office is the agency that serves warrants across the county. You can search for active bench warrants by contacting the clerk, calling the sheriff, or using the FDLE statewide warrant database. Fernandina Beach is the county seat. This page covers how to check for bench warrants in Nassau County, what the penalties are, and what steps to take to resolve one.

Nassau County Clerk of Court

The Nassau County Clerk of Court is at 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee, FL 32097. Call (904) 548-4600 for general questions. The clerk's office handles all court filings for the 4th Judicial Circuit in Nassau County, and that includes bench warrants, capias warrants, and criminal case files. When a judge issues a bench warrant, the clerk enters it into the case management system right away. The record becomes part of the public file under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119. You can visit the office in person and ask staff to look up a bench warrant by name or case number at no charge.

The Nassau County Clerk of Court website is shown below.

The clerk's website also provides online access to court records. You can search for criminal, civil, and traffic cases filed in Nassau County. Bench warrants show up in the case docket. Check the status column to see if a warrant is active, served, or recalled. Keep in mind there may be a short delay between when the judge signs the warrant and when it appears in the online system.

Nassau County shares the 4th Judicial Circuit with Duval, Clay, and Baker counties. While each county has its own clerk, the circuit court judges rotate among these counties. A bench warrant signed by a 4th Circuit judge for a Nassau County case is filed and managed by the Nassau County Clerk.

Nassau County Sheriff Warrants

The Nassau County Sheriff's Office is at 76001 Bobby Moore Cir, Yulee, FL 32097. Phone is (904) 225-5174. The sheriff's office serves all bench warrants and arrest warrants in the county. Once a bench warrant is signed, deputies are assigned to locate and arrest the person named on it. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in the state can serve a Nassau County bench warrant. The arrest can happen any day, any time. There are no geographic restrictions on enforcement.

Nassau County sits in the northeast corner of Florida, right on the Georgia border. If you cross into Georgia with an active Nassau County bench warrant, you are not safe. The warrant data goes into the FCIC system and links to the national NCIC database. Law enforcement in other states can see it. Coming back into Florida guarantees the warrant will show up during any interaction with police, whether that is a traffic stop, a license renewal, or something else entirely.

Note: Nassau County bench warrants do not expire and remain active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the individual is deceased.

Bench Warrant Penalties in Nassau County

Missing a court date in Nassau County leads to new charges. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failure to appear on a felony charge is a third-degree felony. That is up to five years in prison. Failure to appear on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail. These penalties are separate from your original case. The bench warrant is the tool the court uses to get you back, and the failure to appear charge is the punishment for not showing up. Both issues have to be addressed.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge needs probable cause to issue an arrest warrant. For bench warrants, the probable cause is the missed court date itself. The judge signs the warrant, and it goes into the system. Search warrants are different. They expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. Bench warrants have no expiration. A bench warrant from four years ago in Nassau County is still active and enforceable today.

Resolving Nassau County Bench Warrants

If you learn you have an active bench warrant in Nassau County, talk to a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer familiar with the 4th Judicial Circuit can review your case and help you decide the best path forward. In some cases, your attorney can file a motion to quash the bench warrant. This asks the judge to cancel it and set a new hearing date. The success of this motion depends on the nature of the original charge, how long the warrant has been outstanding, and the specific judge assigned to the case. Voluntary surrender at the Nassau County Jail is always an option and tends to be viewed more favorably than an involuntary arrest.

Steps for handling a Nassau County bench warrant:

• Consult a criminal defense attorney
• Have your lawyer file a motion to quash
• Turn yourself in at the Nassau County Jail
• Call the clerk at (904) 548-4600 for your case status
• Call the sheriff at (904) 225-5174 for warrant info
• Search the FDLE database for statewide records

Scam callers sometimes target Nassau County residents. They claim to be from law enforcement and say you need to pay a fine by phone to clear a bench warrant. This is always a scam. No one from the sheriff's office or the court will ask for payment over the phone, by gift card, or through a wire transfer. If you get this kind of call, hang up and verify through the clerk or sheriff's non-emergency line.

Nassau County Warrant Records

All bench warrants in Nassau County are public records under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Anyone can request to see them. You do not need to be a party to the case. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association connects all 67 county clerk offices through shared systems. The eWarrants platform links law enforcement, clerks, judges, and state attorneys across the state. When a bench warrant is filed in Nassau County, it goes into databases used by every agency in Florida.

Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can prepare a direct capias to bring someone before the court for sentencing or adjudication. Under Florida Statute 88.3051, the court can issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment when a person fails to appear after proper notice. Both types of documents are part of the public record in Nassau County and can be searched through the clerk's office.

Cities in Nassau County

Nassau County includes Fernandina Beach, Yulee, Callahan, and Hilliard. All bench warrants go through the 4th Judicial Circuit Court. No city in Nassau County has a population over 75,000, so warrant matters are handled at the county level through the clerk and sheriff offices in Yulee.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Nassau County. Confirm your bench warrant is filed in the right county before taking any action. Each county runs its own warrant system.