[aaskas6]

Please help...

In Feb 2000< I was summoned to appear in court as a petitioner ( with DES also as a petitioner) against my son's father whom I wasn't married to, nor knew of his whereabouts. I didn't appear in court and traveled out of Arizona a week later ( a planned trip before the court date)
I haven't returned since and actually have forgotten about this court date...


Please just explain what the penalties are... I wasn't the respondent I was the petitioner but so was the state... Is there a possible warrant out for my arrest? How can I clear it up?


Please help!!

[George_1950]

Many times a case is dismissed when the petitioner doesn't show up. Can you contact the clerk of court and ask what happened to the case? The clerk will ask you for the name of the case, and they can look it up.

[JudyKayTee]

[QUOTE=aaskas6]Please help...

In Feb 2000< I was summoned to appear in court as a petitioner ( with DES also as a petitioner) against my son's father whom I wasn't married to, nor knew of his whereabouts. I didn't appear in court and traveled out of Arizona a week later ( a planned trip before the court date)
I haven't returned since and actually have forgotten about this court date...


Please just explain what the penalties are... I wasn't the respondent I was the petitioner but so was the state... Is there a possible warrant out for my arrest? How can I clear it up?


You would have to call the Court and find out what the disposition of the matter was -

And you can always be arrested for ignoring a Subpoena (which I would think you received, not a Summons), particularly if the State sent representatives and was looking to you for testimony. I've seen failure to appear ignored, I've seen fines levied, I've seen warrants issued - depends on the Court and the Judge. I've even seen bench warrants issued and people dragged in within hours.

"Probably" after 7 years they've either given up or never bothered in the first place but I don't know if they knew how to find you. This could rear its head if you file for support for your child - or if the State does - in the future.

I don't understand why you were subpoenaed to appear if you were the Petitioner - unless there was a concern that you would not appear.