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North Carolina Failure to Appear Attorney

Don't let an FTA negatively affect your life. We're here to help.

Failure To Appear In Court NC

Whether you were sick, got the date wrong, or simply overslept, missing your court date for a traffic violation can lead to serious repercussions, including having your driver’s license revoked. Fortunately, you don’t have to face a Failure to Appear charge alone. 

At The Law Offices of J.M. Kotzker, P.C., we help clients get their licenses reinstated, work to reduce or remove fees, and get back on track after a moving violation. When you need a failure to appear attorney in Raleigh to help you work through this issue, we’re here to help. 

Understanding a Failure to Appear

If you are required to attend court due to a traffic offense, and you miss your court appearance, you typically have 20 days to reach out to the County Clerk’s Office to reschedule. 

However, in more serious cases, the judge may issue a failure to appear immediately. Once the FTA is issued, whether immediate or 20 after your scheduled court date, the DMV is notified and your license is immediately revoked until the case is settled or dropped and you will be charged a $200 late fee on top of the assessed fine for your traffic violation. 

Once your case is cleared, you then have to pay fees to have your license reinstated so you can move forward. 

Cases Requiring a Court Appearance

While most traffic violations don’t require a court appearance, misdemeanor-level offenses do. These traffic violations include: 

Why You Need a Failure to Appear Attorney

If you are within the 20 days of your missed court date, you need to immediately contact the County Clerk’s office to reschedule your hearing to avoid a Failure to Appear and prevent your license from being suspended.

Can You Receive A Warrant For Failure To Appear In Court?

If you do not take care of an FTA, the court can issue a warrant for your arrest. A Failure to Appear is a serious offense. You could face up to 120 days of jail time and/or a $200 fine if convicted. Plus, the DMV will suspend your license until you take care of the FTA.

The best way to avoid an FTA is to take care of your ticket before your traffic court date. If you cannot pay the full amount, you can usually work out a payment plan with the court. You may also be able to get your charges reduced or dismissed by taking driving classes or by requesting community service instead of paying a fine.

If it’s been after 20 days since your court date, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in Raleigh who can help you with these charges. 

North Carolina offers several ways to deal with an FTA, and an experienced lawyer will know which is best for your situation. You might be able to: 

How Much Is Bond for Failure To Appear?

The amount of your bond will depend on the severity of your charge. For a lesser charge, your bond might be $500 or less. If you’re charged with a more serious crime, your bond could be $5,000 or more.

If you have questions about setting up a payment plan or need help getting your license reinstated after an FTA, contact our office today for a free consultation. We can help you understand your options and work to get the best possible outcome for your case.

Can You Get A Failure To Appear Dismissed?

At the Law Offices of J.M. Kotzker, P.C., we will work to fix this stressful, expensive situation. Our first goal is to have the FTA removed or stricken as a court error, as the DMV will automatically reinstate your license and remove the $200 late fee. 

We will also work to resolve the traffic violation you originally received, whether it’s reducing the ticket or having it dismissed altogether to reduce fines and prevent points from going on your license. Often we can have these issues resolved without you even having to appear in court. 

Schedule a Consultation with a Failure to Appear Attorney Today

We proudly serve clients in Raleigh, Durham, and Fayetteville, obtaining favorable outcomes at reasonable fees. With over 25 years of experience as a Raleigh traffic ticket lawyer, we have a track record of success and will apply our skills and knowledge to your unique case. Give us a call at 919-439-5104 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. 

Get Help

Our determined failure to appear in court lawyers has helped individuals and families with thousands of reckless driving tickets and criminal cases and assisted countless others with their differing legal needs. 

Serving clients throughout The Triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, we fight aggressively to help those in need.  We offer a free consultation and affordable rates to help you pursue the just outcome you deserve.

Contact The Law Offices of J.M. Kotzker Today

We have over 30 years of experience defending Raleigh residents against all types of traffic and criminal offenses.

We know the law and we will use our knowledge to defend your driving record, fight for your rights, and work to get your ticket or criminal case reduced or dismissed completely.

Call us at  919-439-5104 or fill out the form to contact us now for immediate help.