The Bail Bond Contract: What's Involved

Ever wonder exactly what a bail bondsman (or agent) does for a client? Here's a brief rundown, along with what the client agrees to in the bail bond contract.
Overall, the bondsman provides an avenue for the client (defendant) to remain free from custody until his day in court. This allows the defendant to continue his day-to-day work and life until the criminal matter gets resolved.
Specifically, the bondsman provides the following:

• Receipts and copies of all signed documents.


• Information regarding the status of the bond and changes in assigned court dates.


• The status of any costs due, as imposed by the court.


• Assistance in locating the defendant should bond forfeiture occur.


• Appearance before the court regarding the bail bond when such an appearance is necessary (which sometimes requires the hiring of legal counsel).


• The timely return of collateral upon exoneration (release from obligation) of the bond.

• To pay the premium for the bond at the established rates.


• To provide required collateral.


• To pay actual, necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by the bail bondsman in connection with the transaction. These may include reimbursement for long-distance phone calls; excess travel expenses (i.e. outside of the bondsman's normal scope of business); posting fees (for payment to another bondsman, outside of the primary bondsman's advertising area, to physically deliver a bond); bounty agent/skip tracer expenses; payment of the bond amount for the defendant's failure to appear; and attorney fees and court costs.


• To keep the bail bondsman advised of address/employment changes of the defendant or other parties to the agreement.


• To aid the bail bondsman or skip tracers in locating the defendant (in cases where someone other than the defendant has secured the bond).