Home / Bail Bond Process / Do I Get My Bail Bond Money Back?
Bail can be confusing. Many people have questions like, "Do I get my bail money back?" They also want to know how to get bail money back. When a person is accused of a crime and arrested, bail secures that individual's release from jail before trial. Because bail can be costly, bail agents help reduce the immediate out-of-pocket cost by 90% or more in exchange for a fee that amounts to a small percentage of the total bail. For many individuals, this can mean the difference between getting to go home and having to sit in jail while waiting for a court hearing or trial. The court requires a payment of the full bail amount, but a bail agent can secure a person's release for a fraction of the total.
After bail is set, a person must pay the court the full amount in either cash or collateral, or pay a bail bondsman 8 to 10% of that amount in order to secure the release of the incarcerated individual. In some cases, the bonds agent may still need collateral. After that fee is paid, the bonds agent takes the bond to jail, and the incarcerated individual is released from custody.
One of the first questions people ask when paying bail is, "Do I get my bail money back?" For people who pay the full amount directly to the courts, the answer is maybe. If the defendant is acquitted or charges are dropped, then the person who posted bail will receive a refund from the court within about six weeks. If a person uses a bail bondsman, there is no refund. The reason for this is because the full amount of the set bail total was not paid.
Do You Get Bail Money Back if the Person Is Not Released?
Bail money is refunded if the person must remain in jail. If the defendant is not released from jail after bail is posted, All Pro Bail Bond does issue a complete refund to the individual who paid the funds.
After the defendant has been acquitted or charges have been dropped, the money will be returned to the person who posted bail. The check usually gets mailed, so it's important to list the correct address with the court. If the refund has not arrived within six weeks, notify the courts to see what the delay might be. If the person is found guilty, the bail goes toward court fees. In those cases, the court keeps all the bail money and does not issue a refund.
Using a bail agent helps with several things. It secures release of the accused relatively quickly, usually within 30 minutes to 6 hours. It also allows for only a small percentage of the total amount to be paid to secure immediate release. Either the arrested individual or the co-signer agrees to be responsible for the face amount of the bond.