How does the bail bond process work?

When posting a bond, a contractual agreement (application) between the bail bond company and the indemnitor (signer) must be completed. By signing a bond, the indemnitor and the bail agent guarantee to the court that the defendant will appear in court every time they are ordered to do so. During the application process the signer will pay the bond premium, any court costs, and any additional fees (i.e. travel etc). Once the application process is complete the bail bondsman will go to the jail or the court and post the bond for the defendant. The defendant is then released from custody. Please Note: Defendant release times vary depending on the jurisdiction.

Types of Bail

Confused about the different types of bail? We have the answers.

Bail Bonds Terminology

Simple definitions of words frequently used in the bail bonds process.

More FAQs

Another twenty commonly asked questions about the bail process.