Failure to Appear Bail Bonds in Polk County
A missed court date turns into a new arrest and a new bail amount, usually a higher one. We can help get this handled the right way, starting now.
What Happens When You Miss Court
When someone does not show up for a scheduled court date, the judge issues a bench warrant. That warrant leads to a new arrest for "failure to appear," a charge on its own, separate from whatever the original case was about.
If the person was already out on bail for that original case, missing court can also cause that bond to be forfeited, meaning the full bail amount becomes owed. That is a separate problem from the new FTA bond now needed to get released again.
Why the Bail Amount Usually Goes Up
A missed court date tells the judge the person may not reliably show up again, so bail on an FTA charge is almost always set higher than it was the first time. It is one more reason to move quickly: the longer the situation sits, the more it tends to cost.
We will not sugarcoat the number, but we will get the bond moving the moment bail is set.
Estimate an FTA Bail Bond
FTA bail amounts vary depending on the original charge and the judge's view of the missed date, so use this calculator to get a starting number. Call us for the real bail amount and an exact price.
Florida sets a $100 minimum fee, so any bail amount under $1,000 will still show $100 below. At that minimum, the fee is due in full, with no payment plan.
Your Bail Bond Cost (10%)
Payment Plan Example (50% Down)
Enter a bail amount above
This is an estimate only. Call us for an exact price and to start the bail process right away.
Find Our Bartow Office
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Phone
(863) 600-5050, open 24 hours a day -
Office
515 E Main St, Bartow, FL 33830 -
Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day of the year
How We Help With an FTA Arrest
- Explain the new charge and how it relates to the original case
- Check whether the original bond was forfeited
- Start the new bond the moment bail is set
- Work out a payment plan sized to your family's budget
- Stay in contact so this does not happen a second time
An FTA charge feels like being punished twice, but moving fast on the new bond keeps a bad situation from getting worse. Call us and we will walk you through it.
FTA Bail Questions
What does failure to appear (FTA) mean?
It means someone missed a required court date. The judge then issues a bench warrant, and a new arrest can happen at any time until it is resolved.
Why is bail higher the second time?
A missed court date tells the judge the person may not reliably show up again, so bail on the new FTA charge is usually set higher than the original charge was.
Does missing court affect the original bail bond?
Yes. If someone misses court while out on an existing bond, that bond can be forfeited, which means the full bail amount becomes owed. This is separate from the new FTA bond that is now also needed.
What if the court date was missed by accident?
Courts do sometimes recall a warrant or lower bail if there was a genuine reason for missing the date, such as a medical emergency. That is a legal question for the court or a defense attorney, separate from the bond itself, but we can still help post bail once it is set.
Do you offer payment plans for FTA bonds?
Yes. See our bail financing page for how payment plans work if you would rather not pay the 10% fee all at once.
Related Charges
Warrant Bail Bonds
Already have an active warrant out? See how we help resolve it.
See Warrant Bail BondsProbation Violation Bail Bonds
A missed court date sometimes comes with a probation violation too.
See Probation Violation Bail BondsEmergency Bail Bonds
Need help right now, day or night? Here is what to do first.
Get Emergency HelpServing All of Polk County
No matter which city the new warrant was served in, we can help. Most of our calls come from Davenport, Bartow, Lakeland, and Winter Haven, but we cover every part of Polk County.
Call Us and Let's Get This Resolved
A missed court date is stressful, but it does not have to stay a problem any longer than it needs to.