Warrants

Warrant Attorney in Encino

Trial-Tested Warrant Defense for Los Angeles County Since 2001

An outstanding warrant doesn’t wait for a convenient moment. It can lead to arrest during a routine traffic stop, surface on a background check, or create serious consequences at the least opportune time. Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara has been helping clients in Encino and throughout Los Angeles County address active warrants since 2001, moving quickly to recall or quash warrants before an arrest happens.

Attorney Colleen O’Hara brings a career spanning over 200 trials to every warrant matter, giving the firm the courtroom foundation to advocate assertively with prosecutors and judges from the very first hearing. Warrant recall and quash work is handled as part of a broader criminal defense and post-conviction practice, so when a warrant connects to an old or unresolved case, the firm can assess both the immediate issue and what comes next.

Don’t wait for law enforcement to find you first. Call Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara at (213) 996-0529 for a free initial consultation about your warrant. Spanish-language services are available.

Types of Warrants Issued in Los Angeles County

California courts issue two primary warrant types, and the process for addressing each differs. Understanding which type applies shapes the steps an attorney takes.

Bench Warrants

A judge issues a bench warrant directly when someone disobeys a court order. Common triggers include a missed court appearance, an unpaid court-ordered fine, failure to complete a court-ordered program such as DUI school or counseling, or a probation violation. Bench warrants are governed by California Penal Code section 978.5 and are valid across every California county, not just the one where they were issued.

Probation violation warrants are a specific category of bench warrant issued when someone fails to meet the conditions of formal or informal probation. It’s also worth knowing that willful failure to appear after release on one’s own recognizance is itself a separate criminal offense under California law.

Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is issued when law enforcement presents a judge with probable cause that an individual committed a crime. Governed by California Penal Code sections 813 through 829, arrest warrants are distinct from bench warrants in how they originate, though both authorize any California law enforcement officer to make an arrest.

Misdemeanor vs. Felony Warrant Procedures

The court process for recalling a warrant depends on whether the underlying matter is a misdemeanor or a felony. For misdemeanor cases, California Penal Code section 977 allows an attorney to appear on the client’s behalf, often resolving the warrant in a single appearance without the client present. Felony warrant matters generally require the defendant to appear personally, and how that appearance is prepared matters significantly.

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What an Active Warrant Costs You While You Wait

Warrants in California don’t expire. They remain active until a court recalls them, and the risks they create don’t pause in the meantime.

The most immediate risk is arrest during any encounter with law enforcement. In the Los Angeles area, a warrant appearing in the system during a routine traffic stop typically results in immediate arrest and the vehicle being towed to impound. Because warrants are statewide, relocating within California doesn’t reduce that exposure.

The consequences extend well beyond arrest risk:

Employment and housing: An active warrant appears on background checks visible to employers, landlords, and professional licensing agencies
Immigration: Non-citizens face potential detention and deportation proceedings if arrested on an active warrant
Financial penalties: Under California Penal Code section 1214.1, courts may impose a civil assessment for failure to appear, adding costs on top of the underlying matter
Compounding problems: Multiple unresolved warrants make bail significantly harder to secure and can amplify penalties across related matters

There’s also a strategic cost to delay. Judges in Los Angeles County courts treat defendants who appear voluntarily through counsel far more favorably than those who are arrested on a warrant. Acting before an arrest occurs can give an Encino warrant attorney the best opportunity to seek to keep a client out of custody.

How the Warrant Recall & Quash Process Works

Every warrant matter begins with verification. The firm confirms the warrant’s existence, identifies the court and case it belongs to, and assesses the underlying matter to understand what triggered it and what options exist.

Filing the Motion

Recall typically begins with counsel filing a written motion asking the court to recall the warrant and prevent arrest pending a hearing. Los Angeles Superior Court generally schedules warrant recall hearings within approximately seven days of a motion being filed. For misdemeanor matters, an attorney can often appear without the client and resolve the warrant in a single court date.

Felony Warrant Appearances

When the warrant involves a felony, the defendant must appear personally. Attorney Colleen O’Hara prepares arguments for own recognizance release or bail reduction, drawing on the factors courts weigh: the reason for the missed appearance or violation, the defendant’s employment and family circumstances, ties to the community, and the absence of flight risk. Voluntary appearance through counsel is treated more favorably than arrest, which is why coordinating that appearance carefully matters.

Negotiating the Underlying Case

When a warrant arises from an old or unresolved case, the passage of time can create challenges for the prosecution that experienced counsel can use in seeking a favorable resolution. The firm’s post-conviction practice means it can assess not only the warrant itself but whether the underlying case can be resolved, whether charges can be reduced, or whether post-conviction relief options apply.

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Why Encino Clients Bring Their Warrant Matters to Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara

Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara has served clients in and around Encino since 2001. That longevity reflects a practice built almost entirely on word-of-mouth referrals and a hands-on approach that keeps clients informed at every stage.

Attorney Colleen O’Hara’s career includes over 200 trials, with more than 50 handled before becoming licensed. That depth of courtroom experience shapes how the firm prepares every warrant matter, from the initial motion through any hearing that follows. The firm’s record in criminal defense includes dismissals and acquittals, and that same advocacy carries into warrant proceedings.

Several factors make Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara a strong choice for warrant matters in the Los Angeles area:

Trial-tested courtroom presence: Over 200 trials means the firm negotiates from genuine courtroom experience, not just paperwork
Post-conviction depth: Clients whose warrant connects to a prior conviction can access the firm’s full post-conviction practice, including expungements, motions to vacate, and resentencing, as part of a single coordinated representation
Spanish-language services: Available for Encino-area clients who prefer to communicate in Spanish
Responsive communication: Clients are kept informed throughout the process, not left to wonder what happens next
Free initial consultations: An opportunity to discuss the specific warrant and what options exist before making any commitment

Address Your Warrant Before It Addresses You

An active warrant in Los Angeles County compounds the longer it goes unaddressed. The sooner the firm can verify the warrant and begin the recall process, the more options may remain available. Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara offers free initial consultations for clients throughout Encino and the greater Los Angeles area.

Call Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara today at (213) 996-0529 or use the online contact form to schedule your free consultation with an Encino warrant attorney.

After the Warrant Is Recalled: What Comes Next

Recalling a warrant removes the immediate arrest risk, but it doesn’t resolve the underlying case. The charge, obligation, or probation condition that triggered the warrant still needs to be addressed.

Completing all remaining court conditions after a recall is critical. A second failure to appear, missed fine payment, or probation violation typically results in harsher consequences than the first. The firm works with clients to understand exactly what’s required and to stay ahead of future court dates and obligations.

When Time Has Passed

When a warrant has been outstanding for years and the underlying case is old, the passage of time can create prosecution challenges. Witnesses become unavailable, evidence fades, and case circumstances change. Experienced counsel can use those factors to negotiate in seeking a dismissal or a reduced resolution rather than simply reinstating an old matter.

Post-Conviction Relief After Warrant Resolution

When a warrant stems from an old conviction or an unresolved plea, resolving the immediate matter can open the door to post-conviction relief. Law Offices of Colleen O'Hara handles expungements, motions to vacate convictions, motions to reduce charges to a misdemeanor or infraction, resentencing, and commutation or pardon petitions. Attorney Colleen O’Hara has handled numerous post-conviction matters, and for clients whose warrant is the last obstacle before a clean record may become possible, the firm can pursue both goals as part of a single representation.

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