what is a valid search warrant and how do i know if it's not fake?

Question

i've never seen a search warrant in my life?

Answer 1

A search warrant is a written warrant issued by judge or magistrate which authorizes the police to conduct a search of a person or location for evidence of a criminal offense, and seize the evidence.

So to answer your question, a valid search warrant will contain the following:

It will be signed by a judge or magistrate;
Tells the police who or what to search;
Tells the police what they are looking for (evidence);
And tells the police to seize that evidence.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

A valid search warrant will bear the signature of the judge/magistrate who issued it. The peace officers executing the search warrant are required to show you the original warrant and then provide you with a copy of it.

The warrant will identify the judge/court, the person who applied for the warrant, the person/place/thing to be searched, and the items to be searched for.

Answer 4

I doubt you can visually distinguish a fake warrant from the real thing. I also doubt a real officer would present a fake warrant. Every law enforcement agency I know of requires officers to carry a PHOTO ID issued by the department. They are required to show that ID upon request. If the officers are real, the warrant probably is.

Answer 5

If the Police show up at your door and tell you they have a search warrant then they probably do. They will happily give you a copy and a receipt of all the evidence they removed from your place. Keep it and show it to your lawyer.
I could go into the details of a search warrant (but I feel lazy) but it will look official, be signed by a judicial official, and will be handed to you by someone with a badge.

Answer 6

If the police showed up with a fake warrant, everything they seized would be ruled inadmissible in court. The officers behind the fake warrant would not only lose their jobs, they would also be looking at jail time (and you know how much prisoners like cops).