Search Orange County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Orange County are issued by judges in the 9th Judicial Circuit when a person fails to show up for a court date or violates the terms of a court order. Orlando is the county seat and home to the main courthouse. The Orange County Clerk of Courts and the Orange County Sheriff's Office both keep records of these warrants. You can search for active bench warrants through the clerk's online system, the sheriff's office, or through the statewide FDLE database. This page covers the main ways to find, check, and resolve bench warrants in Orange County, Florida. All of these records fall under Florida's public records law and can be accessed by anyone.

Orange County Clerk of Courts

The Orange County Clerk of Courts handles all court case files in the county. That includes bench warrants. The main office is at 425 N. Orange Avenue in Orlando, FL 32801. You can reach the clerk at (407) 836-2000 for help with case info or records. The Orange County Clerk website has tools for looking up court records, paying tickets, and checking criminal case fees online. Registered users can access non-public information, and attorneys get a "My Cases" feature to track active cases. For bench warrant questions, the clerk staff can search by name or case number and tell you if one is active.

The Orange County website is shown below and gives access to records and local services.

You can also use the clerk's "Contact Us" page for branch locations and hours across Orange County. Multiple branch offices serve different parts of the county, so you may not need to drive to downtown Orlando for every request.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge can issue a bench warrant when probable cause exists and a person fails to appear. In Orange County, once that warrant gets signed, it goes into the clerk's system. From there it also feeds into statewide databases used by law enforcement. The clerk processes a large volume of cases each year due to Orange County's size, making it one of the busiest judicial circuits in Florida.

Orange County Sheriff Warrant Searches

The Orange County Sheriff's Office handles serving and tracking bench warrants. The main office is at 2500 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando, FL 32802. The general number is (407) 254-7000, and the non-emergency line is (407) 836-4357. For warrant-related matters, you can call the Criminal Process Section at (407) 836-4510. The Orange County Sheriff website has some info on warrants but does not have a dedicated public warrant search tool online. To verify if a bench warrant is active, you need to call or go in person.

Phone hours for warrant checks are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. If you go in person to the courthouse at 425 N. Orange Avenue, the hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring a photo ID. Keep in mind that showing up in person when you have an active bench warrant in Orange County could lead to arrest on the spot. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in the state can serve a bench warrant. That means a warrant from Orange County can be executed in any other Florida county, at any time of day or night. There are no time limits on when an officer can act.

Note: Orange County bench warrants do not expire and stay active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the subject is deceased.

Search Orange County Bench Warrants Online

While the Orange County Sheriff does not offer a standalone public warrant search tool, you still have options for online searches. The clerk's court records system lets you search by name or case number for criminal cases, including bench warrants. The system shows case details, charges, and warrant status. Not all new warrants show up right away since the database runs on a set update schedule. Give it a day or two for new entries.

You can also use the statewide FDLE database at fdle.state.fl.us to check for Orange County bench warrants. The FDLE system pulls warrant data from all 67 Florida counties, including Orange. It gets updated every 24 hours. Search by first name, last name, or date of birth. The database includes arrest warrants, bench warrants, capias warrants, violation of probation warrants, and fugitive warrants. FDLE warns that this data should not be used as confirmation that a warrant is active or as probable cause for arrest. Always verify through the clerk or sheriff for the most current status in Orange County.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association links all 67 county clerk offices. The eWarrants system connects police, state attorneys, clerks, judges, and sheriffs across the state, so a bench warrant in Orange County will show up in systems used by law enforcement everywhere in Florida.

Orange County Bench Warrant Penalties

Skipping court in Orange County brings serious problems. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failure to appear on a felony charge is a third-degree felony. That carries up to five years in prison. Failure to appear on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. These are new charges stacked on top of whatever brought you to court in the first place. The bench warrant is a separate legal matter from the original case.

There is a big difference between bench warrants and search warrants in Florida. Search warrants expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. Bench warrants do not expire at all. A bench warrant from years ago in Orange County is still valid. It will come up in a traffic stop, a background check for certain licenses, or any contact with law enforcement. Until it gets resolved, it stays in every system.

Resolving Bench Warrants in Orange County

If you find out you have a bench warrant in Orange County, talk to a lawyer before doing anything else. A criminal defense attorney can review your case details and advise on the best path forward. In some situations, the attorney can file a motion to quash the warrant, particularly for older cases or minor charges. Turning yourself in on your own terms usually leads to better outcomes than getting picked up during a traffic stop or at your front door. You can turn yourself in 24/7 at the Orange County Jail.

Steps to resolve a bench warrant in Orange County include:

• Hire an attorney to file a motion to quash or recall the warrant
• Turn yourself in at the Orange County Jail
• Call the Criminal Process Section at (407) 836-4510
• Contact the clerk at (407) 836-2000 for case status

Watch out for scam calls. Real law enforcement in Orange County will never ask you to pay over the phone to clear a bench warrant. No gift cards, no wire transfers. If someone calls and demands payment, hang up right away. Verify through the clerk's office or the sheriff's non-emergency line at (407) 836-4357.

Orange County Warrant Records Access

All bench warrants in Orange County are public records under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119. Once a return of service is filed, the warrant is part of the court record. Anyone can ask to see it. You do not need to be a party to the case. Some limits apply for juvenile cases and sealed records, but most bench warrants in Orange County are open for public search. Under Florida Statute 88.3051, a court can also issue a capias or writ of bodily attachment when someone fails to appear after proper notice. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can prepare a direct capias to bring a person before the court for sentencing or adjudication.

Cities in Orange County

Orange County has many cities and towns. All bench warrants in the county go through the 9th Judicial Circuit Court in Orlando. Orlando is the largest city in Orange County and the only one with a population over 75,000 that has its own page.

Other places in Orange County include Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Winter Park, and Maitland. Bench warrants for residents of these areas are handled at the Orange County courthouse in Orlando.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Orange County. Make sure your bench warrant is in the right county before you take action. Each county has its own clerk and sheriff that handle warrants.