Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is bail bonding?
​Bail is a guarantee—the bail agent guarantees to the court that the defendant will appear in court each and every time the judge requires them to.

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For this service, the defendant is charged a percentage of the bail amount. Before being released the defendant, or a relative or friend of the defendant, typically contacts a bail agent to arrange for the posting of bail. Prior to the posting of a bail bond, the defendant or a co-signer must guarantee that they will pay the full amount of bail if the defendant does not appear in court. If the defendant “skips”, the cosigner is immediately responsible for the full amount of the bail. If the defendant is located and arrested by the bail enforcement agent the cosigner is responsible for all expenses the bail enforcement agent incurs while looking for the defendant.

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After an agreement is reached, the bail bondsman posts a bond for the amount of the bail, to guarantee the defendant’s return to court.

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How soon is collateral returned?

Your collateral is normally given back two to three weeks after the defendant's case is settled/closed and the whole premium is paid in full. A disposition signed by the judge must be submitted for release of collateral.

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How soon is defendant released after posting bail?

The defendant is released once the bond is posted. It generally takes a half-hour to 8 hours for the defendant's release to happen. Every jail has its own unique schedule and protocol.