What to Do If There’s a Warrant for Your Arrest in Minnesota

Realizing there might be a warrant out for your arrest is terrifying. Attorney Sarah Gad fight warrants all the time. In this article, we will explain what you need to know—and what you should do right now to avoid making things worse.

Follow these steps to get your warrant resolved:

1. Confirm Whether the Warrant Exists

Don’t rely on rumors or assumptions. Start by verifying whether a warrant has actually been issued.

• In Hennepin County, you can search the warrant lookup tool.

• You can also call the court clerk or sheriff’s office in the county where you suspect the warrant originated.

• If you're unsure where the warrant might be from, call us. We will run a check for free, confidentially, and without triggering an arrest.

  
  

2. Find Out What the Warrant Is For

Common reasons for arrest warrants include:

• Failure to appear in court

• Probation violations

• Missed fine payments or fees

• New charges filed without your knowledge

Getting clear on the reason will help your attorney assess the best way to resolve it.

3. Don’t Try to “Wait It Out”

Warrants don’t expire. They remain active until you’re arrested or the court recalls it. And they can turn routine encounters—like a traffic stop or airport check-in—into traumatic and public arrests.

Voluntarily addressing a warrant almost always results in a better outcome than being picked up unexpectedly.

4. Call a Criminal Defense Attorney Immediately

Real result: warrant quashed in a felony case on July 23, 2025. No arrest, no jail time.

As your attorneys, we can:

• Quash the warrant (file a motion to get it lifted without you being taken into custody)

• Arrange a voluntary court appearance

• Help you avoid unnecessary jail time and resolve the issue strategically

• Begin damage control before new charges or penalties pile on

5. Prepare for Bail and Court

In many cases, we can negotiate your appearance on favorable terms—especially if it was for a missed court date or low-level offense.

Worst case scenario, you can turn yourself in. You may still need to post bail or appear before a judge. As your attorneys, we can advocate for:

• No bail or lower bail

• Release on your own recognizance (ROR)

• Resolving the underlying charge at the same time

We’ve had warrants recalled and cases dismissed without our clients ever spending a minute in custody—but timing and strategy are everything.

6. Don’t Talk to Police Without a Lawyer

If you’re arrested or contacted by police, say nothing beyond this one sentence:

"I want to speak with my lawyer."

Anything else you say—no matter how innocent—can be twisted and used against you later. Police are trained to build cases, not give second chances.

❌Click here to learn about what mistakes to avoid when you learn you have a warrant for your arrest in Minnesota.

Bottom Line

If there’s a warrant for your arrest in Minnesota, the best move is to take control before law enforcement does. The sooner you involve an attorney, the more options you have—and the better your chances of resolving the situation without unnecessary jail time or additional charges.

Do you have a warrant out for your arrest? Let us help. Call now.