Walk It Through: The Knock at the Door
Officers at the door, a request to come in, a warrant shown, and a receipt for what is taken.
Two officers knock and ask to come in and look around. They show no warrant.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
A search of a home on a warrant. An arrest warrant, an emergency entry, and a search of a car or phone are on their own pages.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- DwellingA building used or normally used by a person for sleeping, living or lodging, which raises trespass and burglary.
- Probable causeThe ground an officer needs to arrest for a felony without a warrant, and the ground a search warrant issues on, supported by an affidavit.
- Search warrantA court order issued on probable cause and an affidavit that particularly describes the property and the place to be searched.