A civil bail bond basically ensures the payments of debts or penalties from civil cases, plus interest and other expenses." Because of this, people charged with a crime should choose a bail company that is more likely to deliver better results. Defendants end up receiving a better deal than what they expected. The Law Office of Matthew D. Sharp is a criminal law firm built around the basic goal of achieving the most positive results for our Texas clients. "name": "How is bail typically determined in Texas? For example, if the arrestee is considered to be a flight risk, the bail could be higher. 4 Ways to Get Out of Jail. This is because you fail to surrender within the 30 day period after bond forfeiture. Bail Cost for a DWI in Texas | Tyler Flood & Associates They are about the same as you will find in other states. ", For over 20 years we've worked with arrestees and their families to connect them with the best bail agents in the industry. Its purpose is to ensure the defendant shows up in court. How Do Bail Bondsmen Make Money? | Bizfluent This level of regulation at the county levels is a reason why Texas has a large amount of bail bondsmen. Failure to appear in court on time may result in bail being forfeited and held by the court. You will likely have to submit an application with the State Department of Insurance and pay a fee via check, money order, or credit card. Choosing a Bail Bond Company Doesn't Have to Be Difficult. Written by our Subject Matter Experts, Updated on September 25, 2019. The fee is non-refundable and will provide a defendant with the money needed to An attorney bond is like a surety bond where you will be released from jail before your trial. However, if the defendant has no ties to the Texas community and can fly away when given bail, the bail amount may be set higher. If you have the cash then, you simply pay and get bailed. Defendants who post bail and then miss a court date forfeit their bail money. Arrestees who are given bail amounts have two options to make their bail. You cannot contact a bail bondsman until your mugshot and fingerprints have been taken in a Texas jail. "mainEntity": [{ Unlike other states, Texas has a unique way of handling bail bonds costs. Copyright 2023 Shouse Law Group, A.P.C. To keep the person who pays the bond fond of you make sure that you show up in court for your scheduled court date. However, when bail is set high, a bail bond is the better choice. As with most states, the Texas bail bonds agent will charge a 10% fee of the total amount of the bail that has been set. Fred is our bail expert who reviews and contributes to our content to ensure we have accurate and complete bail information. Bail bond agents in Texas do not necessarily need to be paid in cash as some take credit cards or use collateral to help secure the bond. How to Become a Bail Bondsman: 7 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow How to Post Bail in Texas: 5 Things to Know - Stuck in Jail How do bail bonds work in Texas? Cash bond - The detainee's friends or family can pay the . Gov. Rather than having one set fee percentage that is charged for each bail bond in the state, Texas allows each county to regulate its bail bond system in accordance to Chapter 17.04 (Texas Occupations Code). However, the sum might be adjusted by the courts and magistrates based on the facts of the case. How do bail bonds work in Texas when determining the cost of bail? Once the magistrate has set the bond amount, a pers. How Does Bail Work? How Is Bail Set? | Nolo } The defendant then signs an agreement with them in order to post the bail. You could arrange for release by paying bail to the court if you have the funds. When the bail bond amount is decided, you or someone else can contact a Texas bail bondsman to post the bond at the local jail. If they do, the bail money will be refunded to them. When it comes to understanding how bail bonds work in Texas; co-signors should know that the bail bonds process, fees and oversight is typical in Texas as in most states.The bail bonds Texas authorities use to release those arrested from jail before their court date has been in place for many decades. Property bonds are another type of bail that can be posted. Choosing a Bail Bond Company: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them There is no such system in federal cases. Bail is the amount of money that an accused person pays in order to be released from custody as they await trial. While you will get a 100% refund of your money, this is a costly option. There are two main types of bail bonds - criminal and civil bail bonds. In return the defendant usually pays 10% to 20% of the face amount of the bond to the bondsman in a non-refundable fee. The bail agent forfeits the bond amount if the defendant fails to show up in court on the date scheduled. Same as above, violate them and go back to jail. We are a resource for people who need bail bondsmen and are ad-supported. How Do Bail Bonds Work | Bond Vs Bail | Law Firm of Patrick Short How Does The Process Of Bail Work In Harris County? How Do Bail Bonds Work In Texas - getallworks.com The cons are that you dont get that 10% back. The court will allow the person who placed the bail to request a remission for forfeiture. So for example, if your bond is set at $5000 then you will pay a non-refundable of $500 to $1000. . They are classified according to the severity of the crimes they are accused of. Often we can help you get charges reduced or dismissed, and avoid jail and a criminal record. Some bail bond companies may allow defendants to pay the 12 percent premium on a payment plan. Required fields are marked *. HOW DOES A BAIL BOND WORK IN TEXAS? - Galveston Bail Bonds Previously, Harris County, as well as Dallas and Galveston counties, relied on "fixed" bail schedules, which set bails at predetermined amounts and fail to consider an . How Bail Bonds Work in Texas | Houston | Dallas | Austin Courts can even release defendants on personal recognizance. 1221 Studewood St Ste 110 For example, the bail bond for a defendant with bail set at $10,000 would be $1,000. Partially secured Bonds Instead of paying the entire bail amount, the court allows the loved one to pay a fee that is usually 10%. The court may revoke the bail bond and cause you to have to post a new higher bail bond to be released. Houston, TX 77008, 2023 SharpCriminalAttorney.com Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer, Should Gambling Be Legalized? bail-jumping - the criminal offense of defaulting on one's bail; bailee - a person who receives personal property from another as a bailment; bailer/bail agent/bail bondsman - one who provides bail as a surety for a criminal defendant's release; bail bond - a bond given to a court by a criminal defendant's surety to guarantee that the defendant will duly appear in court in the future and, if . Courts have the authority to release offenders on their recognizance. "@type": "Answer", Make sure to visit your counties website to determine the exact fee structure, or simply talk to a nearby bondsman and openly ask them about the county regulations. Bail can typically be posted in three ways. Bail bonding is a booming business, collecting $2.5 billion in fees in 2006 alone, according to Seattle PI. An Appearance Bond is a contract between the parties and the Court. Bail can generally be paid by cash or bond. With this type of bond, you will pay your attorney a standard non-refundable fee which is usually 10% of your bond amount. Texas Bail Bonds How Bail Works in TX, How Much Bail Costs, Find Bail Bonds Nearby, $1 Million Dollar Bail Bond Cost & Crimes, Find Bail Bonds Near You - Bail and Legal Knowledge Base, Marketing & Advertising Ideas for Bail Bondsmen. Texas bail bond companies must have a license from the state of Texas for the bail bond to be accepted. Therefore, the bail can either be a personal bond or a bail bond. Search for Texas bail bonds companies via our form above; please make sure to enter the city AND state. At this time the process can begin to release the person and typically can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to be completed. Criminal defense lawyers are well versed in arguing for a bond reduction in Texas. If you have a higher bond, you may have to provide the . Bail is the sum of money paid by an accused person to secure a release from jail while awaiting trial. The defendant must pay the bail amount in cash, check or any other form that the court accepts once the bail has been set. The general bail bond fee charged is 10% but each county has the power to decide a minimum, maximum, or neither. If you successfully show up for every scheduled court appearance, then your bail bondsman will happily keep your $500. "name": "What Is a Bail Bond? The common factors that the court uses to determine the bail amount are: However, bail doesnt have to be in cash form. In Texas, each county has its own bail regulation, and bondsman must be licenses to operate in each county. "@type": "Question", You may also be asked to put up property as collateral. They can wait for trial at home. If the defendant cant raise the cash, then they apply for a bail bond. Other factors can influence the amount, as well. } Its a fee that the Texas bail bonds company will keep. The surety bond issued by the agent acts as a guarantee that the bail will be paid in the event the defendant doesnt show up for their court date. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); During the COVID-19 crisis, Law Office of David A. Breston is fully operational and we can help you by phone, video or in-person when needed! The bail bond agent doesnt pay the full amount of bail set by the court. Courts can also choose to release a defendant on personal recognizance. There is cash bail, which is where the defendant gives the court a check or cash for the amount of their bail. A bail bond works as a surety bond, which means that the bondsman is essentially vouching for the defendant, and that they will show up to their court date. Many bail bond agencies require a 10 percent of the total bail amount non-refundable fee. These can take up to weeks, as the court must conduct inspections and valuations on the property. For example, if the court sets your bail schedule at $10,000, to purchase a bail bond, you would need to pay the bail bonds company $1000. A bail can be posted by another person, usually a friend or relative of the defendant. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bonds firm loses money, and the defendant is held liable. Failure to appear in court on the scheduled trial dates jeopardizes the defendant, and the court may issue an arrest warrant. The amount of time that you will have to spend in jail before getting bailed out will vary. If you are arrested for a fairly minor criminal offense, and your bail is set at $5,000, then you would pay a bail bondsman $500 to avoid spending more time in jail. Our practice is founded on the principle of combining the undivided attention of a small law firm with the full-service abilities of a large firm. Factors that can raise the amount of bail include: Courts can deny bail in some cases, often involving serious charges. The United States is one of the few countries in the world that permit defendants to use a bail bondsman. First, the "bail" amount is simply an amount of money that must be paid to the court in the event that the defendant does not appear in court or violates any other pre-trial bond conditions imposed by the court. Once a judge sets a bail amount, the defendant must pay the bail amount in full and in cash to be released from jail. This will depend on a variety of factors. When charged with a crime in Texas, the court arrests the accused, books the trial date and the judge sets the bail amount.