Legal Question in Criminal Law in Illinois

Re: Notice Of Forfeiture

When you fail to appear on your court date, the Judge signs an Order that forfeits your bond money to the court and issues a warrant for your arrest. If you are arrested, there will be a higher bond set, much higher. Also, your failure to appear has or will result in a conviction on the underlying charge in some cases, and the Judge will determine how much of a fine or what type of sentence you should have on the next court date. Yes, you could go and turn yourself in, but it would be better to hire an attorney to represent you at this point. I have handled many of these situations, and it is possible to persuade some state's attorneys to consent to the judge vacating the Order of Forfeiture, vacating the warrant and approving a plea bargain negotiated between the attorneys. You may call me if you are not already represented by an attorney.

Re: Notice Of Forfeiture

This means that a warrant for your arrest has been issued for failure to appear in court. You have 30 days from the 19th of July to go to court and have it vacated. Pray that you aren't stopped for a traffic offense until then. Otherwise, you'll be spending time in jail until you can be brought before the judge who issued the warrant. Hire a lawyer as soon as possible. You need him.