VA · Warrant guide
Is there an online warrant search in Virginia?
No — Virginia has no public online warrant search. Here’s how to find out.
Last verified 2026-07-23Coverage No online searchJurisdiction Virginia
Why there’s no single online search
No statewide public warrant search.
The Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets the public look up circuit and district court case information statewide, but it shows case records, not a definitive active-warrant status.
The Virginia State Police and some county and city sheriffs publish 'Wanted Persons' fugitive lists, which are curated and not a comprehensive warrant lookup.
How to find out if you have a warrant in Virginia
Warrants are issued by courts and served by sheriffs — so the surest way to confirm one is to ask the source directly. Work down this list.
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Contact the issuing court clerk (General District or Circuit Court)
Call the clerk of the General District or Circuit Court in the city or county where charges are pending to confirm whether a warrant was issued and to learn your next court date.
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Search the Online Case Information System (OCIS)
OCIS provides statewide case lookup for participating circuit and district courts; use it to find your case, then confirm with the court. It is not a warrant-status search.
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Contact the county or city sheriff
The sheriff's office where the warrant issued can confirm an outstanding warrant. The Virginia State Police and some sheriffs also post Wanted Persons lists.
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Types of warrants in Virginia
Not every warrant means the same thing. These are the common types.
- Bench warrant
- issued by a judge, commonly for failure to appear or failure to comply with a court order
- Arrest warrant
- issued on a finding of probable cause that a person committed an offense
- Search warrant
- authorizes a search of a place or person; not primarily an order to arrest the subject
What happens if a warrant is ignored
A warrant generally stays active until a court recalls (quashes) it or it is served by arrest; it does not expire on its own.
You can be taken into custody at any time, including during a routine traffic stop or when appearing in court on another matter.
Unresolved failure-to-appear matters can lead to additional charges and added court costs.
What you can do
Procedural steps only — no outcome is predicted.
Confirm whether a warrant exists and read its details by contacting the clerk of the General District or Circuit Court where charges are pending, or the county or city sheriff.
Identify the issuing court and any scheduled court date, and ask the clerk about the process for addressing the warrant.
Consider resolving it on your own schedule rather than waiting to be arrested, and keep copies of anything you file.
Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.
Common questions about warrants in Virginia
Is there an online warrant search in Virginia?
No public online warrant search exists in Virginia. Here’s how to find out through the court or sheriff.
How do I find out if I have a warrant in Virginia?
Contact the clerk of the court that issued the warrant or the county sheriff’s records or warrant division. Contact the issuing court clerk (General District or Circuit Court); Search the Online Case Information System (OCIS); Contact the county or city sheriff.
What happens if a warrant is ignored in Virginia?
A warrant generally stays active until a court recalls (quashes) it or it is served by arrest; it does not expire on its own. You can be taken into custody at any time, including during a routine traffic stop or when appearing in court on another matter. Unresolved failure-to-appear matters can lead to additional charges and added court costs.
What should I do about a warrant in Virginia?
Confirm whether a warrant exists and read its details by contacting the clerk of the General District or Circuit Court where charges are pending, or the county or city sheriff. Identify the issuing court and any scheduled court date, and ask the clerk about the process for addressing the warrant. Consider resolving it on your own schedule rather than waiting to be arrested, and keep copies of anything you file.
Sources & official links
Everything on this page links out to official government sources. We don’t store or search records.
Last verified 2026-07-23 · 4 official sources