Can You Get a Refund on a Bail Bond in Texas?

 Posted on July 07, 2025 in Bail Bonds

Across the country, seven million people are sent to jail each year. Of those in jail on any given day, approximately 60 percent are there because they cannot afford the cash bail amount required for their release. Those who are unable to afford bail will experience the collateral consequences of being in jail – loss of employment, housing insecurity, and little to no contact with loved ones.

Posting bail in Texas (Title 1, Chapter 17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure) can be unexpected and expensive. Perhaps you are helping a loved one or securing your own release. You may wonder what happens to the money you pay the bail bondsman once your case is over. Many people assume they will get their money back, but this is not often the case. In the state of Texas, whether you will receive a refund depends on how you paid your bail and whether all court obligations were met.

For those who will never have enough money to pay their full bail amount, bail bondsmen can help secure release for just a percentage of the total bail amount. It is essential to work with a reputable Dallas, TX bail bondsman, such as Doc's Bail Bonds. When you place your trust in one of the largest and oldest bail bond companies in North Texas, you will see just how important reputation and integrity really are.   

Understanding the Four Types of Bail in Texas

When you go before the judge, there are four types of bail: cash bail, surety bond, personal recognizance, or property bond. Cash bond means you must pay the full amount directly to the court. So, if your bond is set at $20,000, you must pay this full amount in order to get out of jail. A surety bond requires working with a bail bond company. If your bond is set at $20,000, you will typically pay the bail bond company 10 percent, or $2,000, to secure your release from jail.

If you are released on your own recognizance, this means your defense attorney has persuaded the court that you are not a flight risk and have strong ties to your community, so you are not required to put up any money. If you do not have 10 percent of the bail bond amount, you can sometimes post a property bond through the court. This means you are putting up your home or car as collateral for the bond.

When You Might Get a Refund

If you appear at all your required court dates and you have paid a cash bail in full, then you will get a refund of your bail at the end of your case, minus court fees, fines, and any other costs associated with your case. If you paid 10 percent to the bail bondsman, that money is non-refundable, as it is compensation to the bail bondsman for posting the entire bail amount on your behalf.

Even if you are found not guilty, that money is not refunded to you. A property bond is more complex. An appraisal must be done to determine the property’s fair market value. In some jurisdictions, the equity in the property must be one and a half to two times the bail amount.

The court places a lien on the property, which prevents you from selling, refinancing, or transferring your property until the case is fully resolved. You must adhere to all court-ordered conditions of release, or the court can take action against your property. Once your court case has concluded, the lien on the property is released.

Contact a Collin County, TX Bail Bondsman

Choosing a McKinney, TX bail bondsman from Doc's Bail Bonds allows you to get out of jail when you may not have enough cash or property for the full amount. Doc managed a professional baseball team before becoming the owner of multiple bail bond businesses across the state.

Understanding what it takes to build a strong team has translated into bail bond companies with a stellar reputation. Call 214-747-4110 to speak to an experienced Texas bail bondsman.