Getting a call of distress from a loved one or friend that’s been thrown in jail is unnerving. You’d like to do everything that you can to get them out of this tough spot. When it’s time to help pay his or her bail to get out of the Williamson County Jail or Travis County jail, wouldn’t you like to know the risks associated with co-signing on a bail bond beforehand? The following items detail the risks that come with paying another person’s bond.

The Risks and Responsibilities of Co-signing for a Bail Bond

• When you co-sign on a bail bond, you are promising the bondsman and the courts that the accused will show up for his or her appointed court dates. If that person does not show up for court, every time the court dates are scheduled until the defendant’s criminal issues are resolved, you will be left holding the bag of financial debt owed.
• Financial responsibility does not end after the defendant goes to his or her first court appearance. You will be responsible for this bail bond agreement until the accused is sentenced or when charges are deferred or dropped.
• Revoked bail bonds occur for two reasons. Either the bail bond is revoked by the bondsman, or the court judge ascribes the defendant jail time due to bond condition violations.
• Sometime the bondsman will send the accused back to jail if he or she is arrested for a different, new crime.
• When you sign the indemnity agreement that comes with a bond, you are agreeing to pay up to the full amount of the bail bond you secured for the defendant.
• Be advised that after 36 months of an active bail has been issued, the bail bond will be cancelled by the state.

Although you may feel obligated by familial bonds or a caring relationship to bail out the defendant, you must be certain that he or she is credible – knowing that the court dates will either make or break your bank. At Freedom Bail Bonds, we understand the financial risks associated with bail bonds. Contact us to get started on the process to bail out your friend or loved one.