Missed Court in New Hampshire: What Happens Next

What New Hampshire law says can follow a missed court date: whether it is a separate crime, the driver’s license rule for traffic cases, what happens to bail, and the court’s own next steps. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

What kind of case was the court date for?
How was the person released before the date?

Pick the state, the kind of case and how the person was released to see what that state’s law says.

New Hampshire failure to appear law

In New Hampshire, missing a required court date after release can be charged as its own crime. The statute grades it by the kind of case:

  • Released on a felony charge: up to 15 years, $10,000 fine, or both. Knowingly failing to appear after release, with or without bail, on a charge punishable by death, life, or a maximum of 15 years or more is bail jumping, punished by up to 15 years, a $10,000 fine, or both. (RSA 642:8, III(a)(1)) Only if the underlying offense is punishable by death, life imprisonment, or a maximum of 15 years or more.
    (1) An offense punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of a maximum term of 15 years or more, he shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both;
  • Released on a felony charge: up to 7 years, $5,000 fine, or both. On a charge punishable by more than one year but less than 15 years, bail jumping is punished by up to 7 years, a $5,000 fine, or both. (RSA 642:8, III(a)(2)) Only if the underlying offense is punishable by more than one year but less than 15 years.
    (2) An offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, but less than 15 years, he shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 7 years, or both;
  • Released on a misdemeanor charge: up to 1 year, $2,000 fine, or both. When the underlying charge is a Class A or Class B misdemeanor, bail jumping is punished by up to one year, a $2,000 fine, or both. (RSA 642:8)
    (3) A Class A or Class B misdemeanor, he shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both;

The statute’s mental-state words are “knowingly”, so the reason the date was missed can matter.

When a date is missed, the court’s order is called a bench warrant (RSA 597:37).

Driver’s license after a missed traffic date in New Hampshire

When a defendant defaults on an arraignment or other scheduled court date on any offense, the license is suspended with the director's written consent, effective 30 days after the default. (RSA 263:56-a)

shall be suspended or revoked only upon written consent of the director, effective 30 days after such default or failure

Bail and bonds after a missed date in New Hampshire

A court may strike off a default on a recognizance for good cause when the condition has been substantially complied with; no fixed deadline is set. (RSA 597:32)

To compare what posting bail costs in New Hampshire, see the New Hampshire bail bond calculator.

How to deal with a missed date in New Hampshire

Only the court that set the date can recall a warrant or give a new date. Contact that court’s clerk, or the lawyer or public defender on the case, who can ask the court to recall or quash the warrant.

What this page does not do

  • It does not check whether a warrant was issued in any case or whether anyone will be arrested.
  • Whether a separate failure-to-appear charge is filed is the prosecutor’s decision; what happens to bail is the court’s.
  • It collects nothing; your choices stay in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is failure to appear a crime in New Hampshire?

Yes. Released on a felony charge: up to 15 years, $10,000 fine, or both under RSA 642:8, III(a)(1); Released on a felony charge: up to 7 years, $5,000 fine, or both under RSA 642:8, III(a)(2); Released on a misdemeanor charge: up to 1 year, $2,000 fine, or both under RSA 642:8.

Is missing court a felony in New Hampshire?

In some cases. released on a felony charge: up to 15 years, $10,000 fine, or both under RSA 642:8, III(a)(1) (only if the underlying offense is punishable by death, life imprisonment, or a maximum of 15 years or more); released on a felony charge: up to 7 years, $5,000 fine, or both under RSA 642:8, III(a)(2) (only if the underlying offense is punishable by more than one year but less than 15 years). Otherwise: released on a misdemeanor charge: up to 1 year, $2,000 fine, or both under RSA 642:8.

Will New Hampshire suspend my license for missing a traffic court date?

When a defendant defaults on an arraignment or other scheduled court date on any offense, the license is suspended with the director's written consent, effective 30 days after the default. The rule is in RSA 263:56-a.

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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