Warrants in eCourtDate let you issue and track arrest, search, and seizure warrants with full electronic signature support, giving your agency a complete digital workflow from warrant creation through service.

### Overview

- **What it is:** A warrant management system for creating, signing, tracking, and serving warrants electronically. You can create warrants with full details, collect electronic signatures from judges and officers, track status from issuance through service, and send automated notifications at each stage.
- **Why it matters:** Paper-based warrant processes are slow, prone to loss, and difficult to track. Digital warrant management ensures warrants are issued quickly, signed securely, tracked accurately, and linked to the correct cases and clients for a complete audit trail.
- **Who uses it:** Judges, law enforcement officers, clerks, and administrators involved in the warrant issuance, approval, and service process.
- **Expected outcomes:** Faster warrant issuance, secure electronic signatures, real-time status tracking, automated notifications, and a complete digital record linked to cases and clients.

### Prerequisites

- Admin or authorized staff role with access to **Warrants**
- Case and client records created for the individuals and matters associated with the warrant
- Electronic signature capabilities configured for judges and officers in **Settings** > **Signatures**
- Notification channels (email, SMS) configured for warrant-related alerts

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Access the Warrants Dashboard

1. Click **Warrants** from the navigation or search for "Warrants" in the search bar.
2. The dashboard displays all warrants with their current status, type, associated client, issuing date, and assigned officer.
3. Use filters to narrow results by warrant type (arrest, search, seizure), status (pending, issued, served, recalled), client, or date range.

#### Step 2: Create a New Warrant

1. Click **Create Warrant** in the upper-right corner.
2. Select the **Warrant Type**: arrest, search, or seizure.
3. Enter the warrant details:
   - Select the **Client** (subject of the warrant) from the dropdown.
   - Select the associated **Case** to link the warrant to its legal proceeding.
   - Enter the **Reason/Charges** justifying the warrant.
   - Enter the **Location** for search or seizure warrants (the address or premises to be searched).
   - Add any **Special Instructions** for the serving officer.
4. Attach supporting documents (affidavits, evidence summaries) by clicking **Attach Files**.
5. Click **Save** to create the warrant in **Draft** status.

#### Step 3: Request Electronic Signatures

1. Open the warrant record from the dashboard.
2. Click **Request Signature**.
3. Select the **Judge** or **Magistrate** who must sign the warrant.
4. Add any additional signers (for example, the requesting officer).
5. Click **Send for Signature**. The designated signers receive a notification with a link to review and sign the warrant electronically.
6. The warrant status updates to **Pending Signature**.

#### Step 4: Review and Sign the Warrant

1. Signers receive an email or in-app notification with the warrant details.
2. The signer reviews the warrant, supporting documents, and charges.
3. To approve, the signer clicks **Sign** and applies their electronic signature.
4. To reject, the signer clicks **Decline** and provides a reason.
5. Once all required signatures are collected, the warrant status automatically updates to **Issued**.

#### Step 5: Assign for Service

1. Open the issued warrant from the dashboard.
2. Click **Assign for Service**.
3. Select the **Officer** or **Agency** responsible for serving the warrant.
4. Enter any service-specific instructions (for example, time restrictions, safety considerations).
5. Click **Assign**. The assigned officer receives a notification with the warrant details and instructions.

#### Step 6: Record Warrant Service

1. After the warrant is served, the serving officer opens the warrant record.
2. Click **Record Service**.
3. Enter the service details:
   - **Date and Time** of service.
   - **Location** where the warrant was served.
   - **Method** of service (in-person, left with authorized party).
   - **Notes** about the service (for example, items seized, client's response).
4. Attach any documentation from the service (photographs, inventory lists).
5. Click **Save**. The warrant status updates to **Served**.

#### Step 7: Manage Warrant Status

1. From the dashboard, you can update warrant status at any stage:
   - **Recalled**: Click **Recall** to cancel an active warrant. Enter the reason for recall.
   - **Quashed**: Click **Quash** if a court order voids the warrant. Attach the court order.
   - **Expired**: The system automatically marks warrants as expired based on jurisdiction rules (if configured).
2. All status changes are logged with timestamps and the user who made the change.

#### Step 8: Send Warrant Notifications to Clients

Notify clients when warrants are issued, served, or updated.

1. Open the warrant record from the dashboard.
2. Click **Notify Client**.
3. Select the notification type:
   - **Warrant Issued**: Informs the client that a warrant has been issued and provides instructions (for example, how to surrender or contact their attorney).
   - **Warrant Served**: Confirms service of the warrant and provides next steps.
   - **Warrant Recalled**: Notifies the client that the warrant has been recalled and no further action is needed.
   - **Status Update**: Sends a general update about the warrant's current status.
4. Select the delivery channel: **SMS**, **Email**, or both.
5. Choose a message template or write a custom message. The client's name, warrant type, and case number are automatically included as merge fields.
6. Click **Send** to deliver the notification.

To automate warrant notifications, create a workflow triggered by warrant status changes. Navigate to **Admin** > **Automations** > **Workflows** and configure a trigger for warrant status updates with a **Send Message** action. See [How to Create Workflows](/how-to-create-workflows) for details.

### What to Expect

Once a warrant is created, the system guides it through a structured lifecycle: Draft, Pending Signature, Issued, Assigned, Served (or Recalled/Quashed/Expired). Each status change triggers notifications to the relevant parties and creates an audit trail entry. The dashboard provides a real-time view of all active warrants and their progress, and all associated documents, signatures, and service records are stored in a single digital record.

### Best Practices

- Complete all warrant details and attach supporting documents before requesting signatures to avoid delays.
- Use the **Special Instructions** field to communicate safety concerns or time-sensitive requirements to serving officers.
- Track warrant status daily on the dashboard to ensure timely service and follow up on stalled warrants.
- Link every warrant to its associated case and client for accurate record-keeping and reporting.
- Use the export feature to generate warrant reports for court proceedings, compliance audits, or agency performance reviews.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can a judge sign warrants from a mobile device?**
A: Yes. The electronic signature request sends a link that works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. Judges can review and sign warrants from any device with internet access.

**Q: What happens if a judge declines to sign a warrant?**
A: The warrant status changes to **Declined**, and the requesting officer receives a notification with the judge's reason for declining. The officer can revise the warrant and resubmit it for signature or request a different judge's review.

**Q: Can I track the location of a served warrant?**
A: The service record includes the location where the warrant was served, as entered by the serving officer. GPS-based tracking is not currently available, but the address is logged and linked to the warrant record.

**Q: How do I recall a warrant that has already been issued?**
A: Open the warrant from the dashboard and click **Recall**. Enter the reason for recall and confirm. The status changes to **Recalled**, and notifications are sent to assigned officers. Recalled warrants cannot be served but remain in the system for record-keeping.

**Q: Are electronic signatures on warrants legally valid?**
A: Electronic signatures in eCourtDate comply with federal and state electronic signature laws. However, verify your jurisdiction's specific requirements for electronic warrant signatures. Some jurisdictions may require additional authentication steps, which can be configured in **Settings** > **Signatures**.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** Signer does not receive the signature request notification.
**Symptoms:** After clicking **Send for Signature**, the judge or officer reports they did not receive an email or notification.
**Solution:**
1. Verify the signer's email address is correct in their user profile.
2. Ask the signer to check their spam or junk mail folder.
3. Confirm email delivery is active in **Settings** > **Messaging**.
4. Resend the signature request by opening the warrant and clicking **Resend Notification**.

**Issue:** Warrant status does not update after signature.
**Symptoms:** The judge has signed the warrant, but the status still shows **Pending Signature** on the dashboard.
**Solution:**
1. Refresh the dashboard page to ensure you are viewing the latest data.
2. Open the warrant record and check the signature log to confirm the signature was captured.
3. If the signature is recorded but the status did not update, contact your system administrator to review the warrant workflow configuration.

### Related Articles

- [How to Manage Supervisions](/how-to-manage-supervisions)
- [How to Create Workflows](/how-to-create-workflows)
- [How to Create Message Templates](/how-to-create-message-templates)