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Term Definition Capias - an arrest warrant ordering the sheriff or another police officer to take a person into custody after he or she refuses to show up to court.
Application in Divorce Capias comes from the Latin meaning "That you take." It refers to several kinds of warrants used to take a person into custody.

As it applies to divorce, capias is a civil arrest warrant used to bring a defendent to court to plaintiff.

Back due child support cases produce the most civil arrest warrants. Parents chronically delinquent in child support sometimes are arrested and serve jail time.

See also Bench Warrant.