Don't Walk Into Family Court and Find Out the Hard Way
If you have a custody hearing coming up, an ex who keeps calling the police, or even a nagging feeling there might be a warrant out there — call Chad before you walk into that courtroom. Getting arrested mid-hearing is the worst possible time to start looking for a bail bondsman.
Available 24/7 — 855-BAD-CHAD | County jail releases take about 8 hours
Call Chad Before Your Hearing — Not After You're in Handcuffs
Most people call a bail bondsman after they've already been arrested. The smart move is to call before. If you have a custody hearing scheduled and you're not 100% certain your record is clean, Chad can help you figure out what's out there and get a plan in place before you walk into that courtroom. A two-minute phone call before your hearing is worth more than a four-hour scramble from the courthouse holding cell.
You Think There Might Be a Warrant
Maybe you missed a court date years ago. Maybe you had a DUI that you thought was resolved. Maybe you're just not sure. Chad can point you to the right warrant search tools and help you understand what you're dealing with before the opposing attorney does.
Your Ex Keeps Calling the Police on You
If your co-parent has a pattern of calling the police, filing false reports, or using the criminal system as a weapon in your custody fight, you need to be prepared. Chad has seen this pattern many times. He can help you understand your exposure and be ready to move fast if an arrest happens.
You Have an Ongoing Custody Battle
High-conflict custody cases are unpredictable. Hearings get continued, new motions get filed, and the other side is always looking for leverage. Having Chad's number saved — and having already talked to him — means you're not starting from zero if something goes wrong.
You Want to Know What Bail Would Look Like
If you're worried about a potential arrest, Chad can walk you through what bail would likely be based on the charge, your history, and the county. Knowing the number ahead of time means your family can move fast when it matters.
Have a hearing coming up? Call Chad now — even just to talk through the situation.
855-BAD-CHAD — 24/7When Your Ex Is Using the System Against You
In high-conflict custody cases, one parent sometimes uses the criminal justice system as a tactical weapon — repeated police calls, restraining order applications, false domestic violence reports. This is more common than most people want to admit. If this is your situation, you need two things: a good family law attorney, and Chad's number saved in your phone. Chad doesn't judge the situation. He's seen it from every angle. His job is to get you out fast so you can get back to fighting for your kids.
Repeated police calls with no arrest
If your co-parent keeps calling the police and officers keep leaving without arresting anyone, that pattern can escalate. One call where the officer decides differently changes everything.
Active restraining order or protective order
A restraining order violation — even an accidental one — can result in immediate arrest. In a custody context, these charges are taken seriously and bail can be set high.
Pending criminal charges tied to the custody dispute
If you have an open domestic violence case, a PC 273.6 violation, or any charge that originated from the custody conflict, that case and your family court case are now linked. Getting arrested on one affects the other.
History of missed court dates or old warrants
Old warrants don't expire. If there's something in your past — even from years ago — the opposing attorney will find it and use it. Knowing what's out there lets you address it on your terms.
How a Bench Warrant Surfaces Mid-Hearing
Family court judges run routine checks before and during hearings. The other parent's attorney may have done their homework and found the warrant. The judge's clerk may flag it when your name is called. In some cases, the opposing party hands the judge a printout right there in the courtroom. However it surfaces, the result is the same: the bailiff takes you into custody before the hearing is finished — or sometimes before it even starts. Your attorney is still in the room. Your custody case is still on the calendar. But you are now in the back of a sheriff's vehicle.
The Other Parent's Attorney
In contested custody cases, opposing counsel routinely runs background checks and warrant searches. Finding an active warrant is a significant tactical advantage and they will use it.
The Court's Own Records Check
Family court clerks often run the parties' names through the system before a hearing. An active warrant will appear and the judge will be informed.
Law Enforcement in the Courthouse
Courthouses have sheriff's deputies present at all times. If a warrant is flagged, the deputy is obligated to act on it. The judge does not have to order the arrest — the warrant itself authorizes it.
What Happens to Your Custody Case When You're Arrested Mid-Hearing
A family court judge cannot ignore an active warrant. Once it is flagged, the hearing may be continued — delaying your custody matter by weeks or months. The judge may proceed in your absence, meaning decisions get made without your input. In the worst case, the judge takes note of the warrant as evidence of disregard for court orders, which directly affects how they view your fitness as a parent.
Possible outcome
Hearing continued without resolution
Your custody matter is rescheduled. You miss your day in court and the delay can stretch weeks or months depending on the court's calendar.
Possible outcome
Hearing proceeds without you
The judge may allow the other party to present their case while you are in custody. Temporary orders — including custody arrangements — can be issued with no input from you.
Possible outcome
Negative inference on parental fitness
A bench warrant signals to the family court judge that you have failed to comply with a prior court order. Family court judges weigh compliance heavily when evaluating parenting ability.
Possible outcome
Bail set — this is where Chad comes in
Once you are booked on the warrant, bail is set. Chad can have a bond posted within hours of booking completion. The faster you're out, the less damage to your custody case.
Why Speed Matters for Your Custody Case
Every day you spend in custody is a day your custody case moves without you. Temporary orders become harder to modify once they are in place. The other parent establishes a routine with the children. Your attorney can only do so much without you present. Getting out on bail fast is not just about the criminal matter — it is about getting back to your family court case before the damage compounds.
Temporary Orders Can Become Permanent
Family courts issue temporary custody orders when one parent is unavailable. The longer those orders stay in place, the more they resemble the status quo — and courts are reluctant to disrupt a stable arrangement.
Your Attorney Needs You Out
Your family law attorney cannot effectively represent you from jail. Strategy sessions, document review, and court prep all require your direct participation.
Showing Up Matters
Family court judges notice who shows up and who does not. Getting out on bail and appearing at every subsequent hearing — on time, prepared — directly counters the negative impression the warrant created.
The Warrant Issue Can Be Resolved
A bench warrant is not the end of the road. Once you are out on bail, your attorney can work to recall the warrant, address the underlying failure to appear, and get you back in front of the family court judge with a clean record going forward.
What Chad Does — Before or After the Arrest
Whether you're calling from the courthouse holding cell or calling the night before your hearing because something doesn't feel right — Chad picks up. He gets the information he needs, walks you through the options, and moves fast. In most post-arrest cases, release happens within two to four hours of booking completion. For pre-hearing calls, Chad helps you understand your exposure and get a plan in place so your family knows exactly what to do if something goes wrong.
Call Chad — Any Time
855-BAD-CHAD is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it's the night before your hearing or the moment you're booked, Chad picks up.
Chad Gets the Details
Booking number, charge, bail amount, county — Chad gathers everything needed to move fast. For pre-arrest calls, he helps you understand what you're dealing with.
Bond Is Posted
Chad works with you or a cosigner to post the bond. He covers all four Southern California counties and moves as fast as the jail allows.
You Get Back to Your Case
Out of custody, back to your attorney, back to your custody fight. That's the goal — and the faster it happens, the better your position in family court.
Check for a Warrant Before Your Hearing
If you have a custody hearing coming up and you're not certain your record is clean, run a warrant check now. It takes five minutes and it could save you from being arrested in front of a family court judge.
Run a Warrant SearchFamily Court and Warrants: Your Questions Answered
Can I get arrested at my custody hearing if I have a warrant?
Yes. A warrant is an order to arrest you, and there are sheriff's deputies in every courthouse. If the warrant comes up while you are there, they can take you into custody before, during or right after your hearing. It does not matter that you came to court for a custody matter and not a criminal case. The warrant is what authorizes the arrest. If you think there is any chance you have a warrant, call before your court date, not after.
Will the family court judge know about my warrant?
Do not count on them not knowing. Your name gets run through the court system, and in a custody fight the other side has every reason to look. Even if the judge never checks, the people on the other side of your case often will.
Can my ex tell the judge or the bailiff about my warrant?
Yes, and in a high-conflict custody case, assume they will. We have seen it many times: the other parent or their attorney finds the warrant and tells the bailiff or the deputies before the hearing starts, and the person is taken into custody when the hearing ends. Custody fights are contentious, and a warrant is the kind of leverage the other side looks for.
Can I post bail at family court?
No. Family court is not set up like criminal court. In a criminal courtroom, a bail bond can sometimes be arranged quickly. In family court, if you are taken into custody on a warrant, you go to jail first. You get booked, and only then can a bond be posted to get you out. Meanwhile, your custody hearing goes on without you or gets pushed back. That is why the time to deal with a warrant is before you walk into family court.
Should I still go to my custody hearing if I have a warrant?
Missing your hearing can hurt your custody case badly. The judge may go forward without you and make orders based only on the other side's story. The better answer is to take care of the warrant before the hearing, so you can walk in and fight for your kids without looking over your shoulder. Call us, and talk to a family law attorney or your court's free self-help center (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov) about the custody case itself.
How do I clear a warrant before my family court date?
Start by finding out exactly what is out there: which court, what case and how much bail. Call us 24/7 and we will help you check. Depending on the warrant, the options can include posting a bail bond on it ahead of time so you are not sitting in jail on your hearing day, or going back to the court that issued it, often with an attorney, to get it recalled or put back on calendar. The key is doing it on your schedule, before the hearing, not the other side's.
I have a child support warrant. Will I be arrested at my hearing?
You can be. A warrant tied to child support works like any other warrant: if it comes up while you are at the courthouse, the deputies can act on it, and child support hearings are exactly where the other side is paying attention. If you know or suspect there is a warrant tied to support, missed hearings or anything else, call before you go.
Can I call Chad before my hearing just to be prepared?
Absolutely — and Chad encourages it. If you have a custody hearing coming up and any uncertainty about your record, call ahead. Chad can help you understand your exposure, point you to warrant search tools, and make sure your family knows what to do if something goes wrong. A five-minute call before your hearing is worth far more than a frantic call from the courthouse holding cell.
My ex keeps calling the police on me. What should I do?
Document everything and talk to your family law attorney about the pattern. From a bail perspective, Chad's advice is simple: save his number now. If your co-parent has a history of using the police as a tool in your custody fight, you need to be ready to move fast if an arrest happens. Knowing who to call and having already spoken to Chad means your family isn't starting from zero in a crisis.
What happens to my custody case if I get arrested at the hearing?
It depends on the judge and the circumstances, but the outcomes are rarely good. The hearing may be continued — delaying your case by weeks or months. The judge may proceed without you, allowing the other party to present their case and potentially obtain temporary orders. And the warrant itself becomes part of the record the family court judge uses to evaluate your fitness as a parent. Getting out on bail fast limits the damage.
How fast can Chad get me out after a courthouse arrest?
It depends where they are held. If they go to county jail, plan on about 8 hours (sometimes 6, sometimes 10 or more) after the bond is posted. The courthouse holding process and transfer to county jail adds time, but Chad starts working the moment you call. The sooner someone calls Chad, the sooner the process starts.
Does the warrant have to be related to the custody case?
No — and this is the most common scenario. The warrant is usually from a completely separate matter: a missed court date on a DUI from three years ago, an unpaid fine, a probation violation. It has nothing to do with the custody case, but it surfaces the moment your name is run in the courthouse system. The family court judge still has to act on it.
Can Chad help if bail is set very high because of the custody situation?
Yes. Chad has experience with high-bail situations and can discuss options including additional collateral, co-signers, and working with your attorney on a bail reduction motion. Call and explain the full situation — Chad will be straight with you about what's possible.
Don't Wait Until You're in Handcuffs
If you have a custody hearing coming up, an ex who keeps calling the police, or any uncertainty about your record — call Chad now. Five minutes on the phone before your hearing could save your custody case.
855-BAD-CHAD — Call NowNot legal advice. The information on this page is based on Chad Conley's 15+ years as a licensed bail bondsman, plus additional experience as an investigator and bounty hunter and is intended to help families understand the general process. It is not legal advice, and Chad Conley is not an attorney. Every case is different. If you have legal questions about your specific situation, please consult a licensed attorney.