§AK COURT WATCH

What happens if you miss a court date in Alaska

This page is information, not legal advice. Every case is different. The court clerk and a lawyer are the right people to ask about yours — this page tells you how to reach both.

What can happen

In a criminal case, the judge can issue a bench warrant for your arrest. The prosecutor can also file a new charge for failing to appear, and you can lose money you put up for bond. That's laid out in the court system's own Steps in a Criminal Case.

In a civil case — like a debt lawsuit — not showing up or not answering means the other side can win by default, and the court won't hear your side. A default judgment can be collected from wages, bank accounts, or your PFD. See the court's page on default judgments, which also explains asking the court to set a default aside.

For traffic and other minor offenses, ignoring the ticket leads to a default judgment with the fine plus about $70 in added costs, and can affect your license and PFD. The court explains this on its minor offenses page, along with a form to ask the court to vacate a recent default.

What to do right away

Call the court where your case is. The clerk can tell you the status of your case and what your options are. Find the phone number in the Alaska Court System directory or on our court locations pages.

Ask about the warrant. In criminal cases there is an official form — the Non-Opposed Application to Quash Bench Warrant & Re-Set Hearing Date (CR-356) — for asking the court to cancel a bench warrant and put the hearing back on the calendar. It requires contacting the prosecutor first, and the judge decides. A lawyer can tell you whether it fits your situation.

Check your case on CourtView. The court's free case search shows your case's scheduled events and docket. Our guide to looking up a court case walks through it.

Who to call

If you have a criminal case and can't afford a lawyer, the Alaska Public Defender Agency is at (907) 334-4400, or (800) 478-4404 toll-free. For other cases, the court's Finding a Lawyer page lists the Alaska Bar Association's referral service at (907) 272-0352 — (800) 770-9999 outside Anchorage — and Alaska Legal Services for free civil help for low-income Alaskans.

Going forward

You can search today's calendars for free to see whether a name appears, or get an email alert when it does. Calendars change through the day and our data is unofficial — the official calendars, CourtView, and the clerk are always the authoritative sources.