Colorado Statute of Limitations on Bench Warrants

Treat bench warrants seriously.
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A bench warrant is an order issued by a judge to force you to appear before their court. It is a common misconception that the statute of limitations applies to these warrants.

Statute of Limitations

The Statute of Limitations does not apply to a bench warrant in Colorado. Thus, bench warrants do not expire in Colorado. You can be arrested for a Colorado bench warrant decades after it was issued.

Representation

For a bench warrant to have been issued, you have already likely appeared before the court with an attorney. You may want to contact that attorney. The sooner you address your bench warrant the better.

Considerations

In Colorado, as in most states, police may contact you and ask you to "answer the warrant" at the precinct or the courthouse. The officer will then take you before the judge. In the court's eyes this is an "involuntary return." You should try to appear in court of your own volition and, ideally, with an attorney at your side.

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