Bail Bond

A Bail Bond is a document (or contract), executed by a surety (guarantor), which is a promise to pay the face amount of the bond equivalent to the sum set as bail, unless the defendant fulfills the conditions of the bond. The surety guarantees a defendant's appearance at the risk of forfeiting the bond amount. In other words, when a bail bond is posted the defendant is released from jail. If the defendant does not appear in court or flees, the bail bond company is obligated pay the court the entire bail amount.

Bail Bonds companies usually charge a non-refundable premium of 10% of the designated bail to post a bond with the court. For example, if the judge sets bail at $50,000, the bail bondsman will generally charge you $5000 to post bail. The price for the bail bondsman to put up the bail (guarantee) is usually 10% of the total bail but in some counties can go as low as 8%.This percentage is the bond seller's fee for taking the risk that you won't appear in court. Although bail bonds may seem like a good idea, buying one can cost more in the long run. For example, even if your case is dismissed, the fee paid to the bail bondsman is nonrefundable. In some cases, a bail bond may be valid only for a limited time—perhaps a year. If the criminal case extends beyond a year, then the defendant may have to pay an additional fee. Consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney before posting a bond. See also, Bail, Bail Bondsman, Bail Schedule.

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