How a Bail Bond Works
When a judge sets bail, that is the full amount the court wants to guarantee the defendant returns. Most families cannot pay that in cash. A bail bondsman steps in, pledges the full bail to the court, and charges you a smaller fee instead. Once the bond is posted at the jail, the court releases your loved one to await their court dates from home.
What a Bail Bond Costs
By Texas custom, the fee is a set percentage of the full bail, often around ten percent. On a ten thousand dollar bail, that is about one thousand dollars paid to the bondsman. This fee is the cost of the service and is not refundable, even if the case is later dropped. Many bondsmen offer payment plans so the fee is manageable.
What the Cosigner Agrees To
Most bail bonds need a cosigner, also called an indemnitor. This person signs the agreement and takes responsibility for making sure the defendant appears at every court date. If the defendant skips court, the cosigner can be responsible for the full bail. A good bondsman explains exactly what a cosigner agrees to before anyone signs.
When the Bail Bond Ends
A bail bond stays active until the case is resolved. When the defendant has attended every required court date and the case ends, the court releases, or exonerates, the bond. The bondsman is no longer on the hook for the bail. The fee you paid stays with the bondsman as the cost of the service.