Accomplished Florida Criminal Defense Lawyer Counsels on Warrants

Pursuing effective strategies to respond to search warrants, arrest warrants and bench warrants

A warrant is an authorization for law enforcement officers to make an arrest or conduct a search. If you receive notice of a warrant issued against you, it’s vital that you contact a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney immediately for advice and representation. The Law Offices of Tad A. Yates, P.A. in Orlando regularly helps people respond effectively to warrants and counsels them on appropriate conduct designed to minimize disruption to their lives.

Types of warrants issued in Florida criminal cases 

Warrants in Florida can be issued for different purposes in various circumstances, as follows:

  • Arrest warrants — These warrants empower police to arrest a designated person on sight without having witnessed an alleged crime. Officers can request arrest warrants based on their own observation of a crime or the sworn complaint of a witness. When a grand jury returns an indictment, a court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the person charged. 
  • Capias warrant — After formal charges have been filed, if a defendant fails to appear in court, the judge can issue a capias warrant, empowering police to arrest the individual.
  • Search warrants — These warrants allow police to search premises or vehicles to find evidence of a crime. Requirements for a search warrant include probable cause to believe a crime has been committed, the name of the person who is target of the search, the area to be searched, the type of property to be seized and any communications that are subject to seizure. 
  • Bench warrants — Bench warrants are issued by judges on their own initiative because a person has violated a court order, such as not appearing in court in response to a summons.
  • Notices to appear — Though not technically a warrant, a notice to appear can be issued to people charged with low-level crimes when it does not appear necessary to take the accused into custody. However, if you ignore a notice to appear and miss your court date, the judge can issue a bench warrant.

In all of these circumstances, your response will impact future proceedings. Missteps in handling a warrant can lead to additional charges, more stringent bail, and other complications.

Your rights when faced with a warrant in Florida

Because accused persons have certain constitutional rights, authorities must demonstrate that a request for a warrant has sufficient legal grounds. This means presenting evidence, including sworn testimony, to persuade a judge that “probable cause” exists that a specific person has committed a specific offense. 

It is possible that a warrant issued against you is unlawful because it lacks probable cause. However, you should not take it upon yourself to object to its execution or to resist arrest. The time and place to fight a warrant is in court after its execution. The exception is a case in which you know authorities are seeking a warrant. Then you can alert your attorney of the need to contest the matter before the judge signs off on the warrant.

You should retain a criminal defense lawyer with extensive experience handling warrant matters in Florida, who can take decisive steps to preserve your rights and ensure due process under the law.

Contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Orlando for advice on warrants 

The Law Offices of Tad A. Yates, P.A. advocates in behalf of clients who are targets of various types of warrants. To schedule a free consultation, call Tad A. Yates at 407-608-7777 or contact the firm online.

attorney

Mr. Yates is a past-President of the Orange County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. He previously served as Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 9th Judicial Circuit. 

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  • When I met Tad Yates, I was frantic, scared and misinformed about the legalities of my case. He quickly reassured me that everything was going to be alright and started at once preparing my defense. Every time I needed to speak with him, he was there to give advice and inform me the status of my case. As a result of his hard work, he managed to get my case dismissed and this blemish off my record. If you’re thinking of hiring or consulting with Mr. Yates, your in great hands.

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  • Tad is an excellent attorney. Due to a momentary lapse in judgement, I was put in a bad position and could not be more grateful that I hired Tad. From the moment I met Tad, I knew that I was in great hands! Tad explained to me all possible outcomes of the case and really helped put my mind at ease. In the end, I wound up with a very positive outcome and I owe it all to him. Tad was always available when I needed to speak with him and I couldn’t be happier that I hired him. Without the help and guidance of Tad, I’m not sure where I would be today. Tad is not only an amazing attorney, but an all-around great person!

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  • I do not have enough words to describe how amazing the experience with this attorney was. He works very hard to obtain the best results for his clients. I could not have asked for better services. I had exceptional fast results, I highly recommend this attorney. Thank you again, Tad Yates.

  • After consulting with several different highly recommended lawyers, I decided to hire Tad. It was a decision that would truly effect my life in a very profound way. Tad never promised results, he did however layout his experience and give me his word he would put all his effort into my case. I felt that was the honesty I deserved. He was sincere, honest, and reliable. Every time we attended court he seemed to hold a very good relationship with all the court's people. My case with Tad lasted about 9 months. There were many times I wanted to break down, not knowing what the results would ultimately be; however Tad always personalized my case and would constantly provide me with assurance of his efforts. He was always extremely accessible. This gave me a lot of peace. The results of my case ended up being extremely satisfying. I was looking at losing everything, for good. I now have my peace, my freedom, and I am currently very successful. Even after my case, Tad kept tabs with me and ensured I was doing as I should. There is a handful of people God put in my life of whom helped me get to the next level, there is no denying Tad is one of them.

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  • Tad came highly recommended. Set up a consultation and after meeting him, hired him immediately. Tad is extremely knowledgeable, efficient and truly cares. He was always available to speak and support during a very difficult situation. Although he has many clients, he always made us feel important and took the time necessary to ensure our questions were answered and that we were comfortable with strategy and next steps. He ultimately achieved the desired result and we are forever grateful.

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  • When I met Tad Yates, I was frantic, scared and misinformed about the legalities of my case. He quickly reassured me that everything was going to be alright and started at once preparing my defense. Every time I needed to speak with him, he was there to give advice and inform me the status of my case. As a result of his hard work, he managed to get my case dismissed and this blemish off my record. If you’re thinking of hiring or consulting with Mr. Yates, your in great hands.- A.

    I was referred to Tad by a friend of the family. They told me what he did for them and assured me that he would do the same for me. He exceeded my expectations from start to finish. He used his knowledge of the law, professionalism and relationship skills to have my case completely dropped. No plea deals what so ever. He never once doubted me however he did explain exactly what we had to overcome. If you find yourself in a situation that could impact you for the rest of your life, whether you did anything wrong or not I would encourage you to give him a call.

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    Strongly recommend Tad Yates as an attorney as well as his office staff, Kathy. They are absolutely on top of their game. Very attentive, astute and courteous. The kindness and understanding shown by their office is incomparable. They have ...
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    Time spent in any legal process can be stressful. Tad is a great communicator and put me at ease with the process. His knowledge and plan of action where exactly what I needed. I would definitely recommend giving his office a call if you ar...
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    I was highly recommended by a former Circuit Judge in Orlando to contact Mr Yates. He immediately took my call and put me at ease immediately. After his investigation into the matter he agreed to take my case. I never met him in person and ...
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    If you're reading this and you have a case pending, you need to stop immediately and call Tad's office. Take it from someone who has been there, Tad is a consummate professional and highly skilled tactician who will get you the best possibl...
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    — Brenden McDaniels

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    Tad is fantastic. Not only did he get my case dismissed in a timely manner, but he also made himself available over the holidays to provide advice and refer me to another law firm. He truly cares about his clients. I would highly recommend ...
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    — Leah