How bail bonds work

The application takes approximately 10–15 minutes. Release times vary from facility to facility — ask your agent for the release times at the specific jail.

The full name and date of birth of the person in custody, and the facility holding them. From there we call the jail to confirm the charges, the bail amount and the court date, then call you straight back.

No. We can complete the whole process by phone, credit card and fax, meet you at the jail, or come to your home. Whatever is easiest for you at the time.

He or she will stay in custody until sentenced or released.

Yes. Most facilities will accept the full amount of the bail in cash. You get that money back at the end of the case, but it ties up the full bail amount in the meantime.

Bail is regulated by the State of Washington and we are required by law to charge 10% of the bond amount. On a $10,000 bail, the premium is $1,000.

No. Bail is regulated through the State of Washington and we are required by law to take 10% of the bond, which is non-refundable. It is the fee for the service, not a deposit.

All major credit cards, personal checks and jail checks. We also offer financing and flexible payment plans, and there is no credit check — your job is your credit.

The agreement runs for the life of the case being bonded. The premium is normally paid annually, at the start and on each anniversary of the bond. Premiums are not refundable and are fully earned regardless of the outcome of the case.

The court may reduce the amount of bail and accept a replacement bond issued for the lower amount. Any reduction in the premium or collateral depends on the bail company and surety company rates and policies.

Collateral can be personal or real property, and is used to secure the bond.

No — we find that most of our clients are eligible for a signature bond, with no collateral at all.

When the defendant has been sentenced or released and all financial obligations are met.

The indemnitor is 100% liable for the full bond amount, including any fees arising from a failure to appear in court.

The indemnitor accepts responsibility for the defendant and for the full dollar amount of the bond if the defendant fails to appear for their court dates. By signing for the defendant, the indemnitor guarantees — indemnifies — to the bail agent that they are responsible for the defendant and for all money due to the bail agency and the courts.

They have "skipped bail", and several things follow. The court revokes the original bail and issues a bench warrant — failure to appear is itself a crime and carries jail time on top of any sentence for the original charge. The bail agent will then try to find the defendant and return them to custody, at which point the bond can be exonerated. If the defendant cannot be found within the allotted time, the bail agent must pay the court the full amount of the bail plus court costs, and will seek to recover that from the indemnitor.

The video below walks through how to check both. If you would rather not look it up yourself, call us and we will check for you.

Bail is money deposited with a bail bond agent or the court to get an arrested person temporarily released from custody. It is a surety — a guarantee — that the arrested person will make all of their required court appearances.

The face sheet is the contract pledging the guarantee of the defendant’s appearance in court. The power of attorney indicates the pledging surety’s authority to issue the bond. Together they make up the bail bond — the document the bail agent files with the court to show that bail has been paid. It must be presented to the police or the court before the defendant is released.

When someone is arrested, an indemnitor — usually a family member or friend — uses a bail agent to obtain the defendant’s release. The agent charges 10% of the full bail amount to post the bond, and may ask for proof that the indemnitor could cover the entire bail amount if the defendant skips bail. In effect the agent lends the indemnitor $5,000 for a fee of $500.

The defendant appears before a judge, the charges are read, an attorney is appointed if they cannot afford one, and a plea is entered. Generally the defendant is brought before a judge within 24–48 hours of arrest; the U.S. Supreme Court requires that someone arrested without a previously issued warrant be brought before a judge within 48 hours so a judge can determine whether there was probable cause.

An arrest is made and the defendant is taken to jail. From there one of three things happens: they are released with no charges filed; they bail out or are released on their own recognizance and are scheduled for arraignment; or they remain in custody and are brought to court for arraignment. At arraignment the defendant is informed of the charges and of their constitutional rights, an attorney is appointed if needed, bail is set or they are released, and a plea is entered.

The Washington State Department of Licensing and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. They license bail bond agents and set the rules agencies have to work under, including the premium rate.