Paying the bail for a friend or loved one can often be a overwhelming, unexpected expense – but it’s not always permanent. Learn about the two main types of bail bonds, and how you can ensure a full return:
Cash Bail Bonds
Cash bonds are just about as simple as bonds can get. A cash bond is an agreement to return to court after being released from jail. In exchange for release, a defendant pays a set amount of money that is returned to them after appearing at a determined court date. So, basically, a defendant offers up cash as a kind of “promise” to return to court after being released from jail; if the defendant does not return, the cash is forfeited and a warrant is issued for the defendant’s arrest. For this type of bond, the cash must be paid in full at once.
Do you get your bail money back for cash bonds? Yes, if the defendant attends all court dates the money will be completely refunded.
Surety Bail Bonds
Surety bonds are probably the most well known kinds of bail bonds. In short, a surety bond is a bail bond that is posted by a bail bondsman. A defendant makes an agreement with the bail bondsman in exchange for the necessary amount of money for bail, to attend a given court date. A bail bondsman will usually require some form of collateral from the defendant in order to make sure that the bail money is not lost in the event that the defendant does not attend the court date. In cases with higher bail, a surety bond is often the only way to bail out a defendant.
