Texas allows four main types of bail bonds to help defendants get released from jail before their court date. A Texas bail bond agent, also known as a bondsmen, can provide these different bonds with the goal of ensuring defendants appear in court.
Cash Bonds
Cash bonds require defendants or their family and friends to provide the entire bail amount set by the court in cash. Once the case concludes, as long as the defendants attend all court dates, the cash goes back to whoever paid it. Cash bonds allow defendants to get released from custody immediately without needing a bail bond agent. However, paying the full bail amount upfront can present a financial challenge.
Surety Bonds
With surety bonds, bail bond companies provide a written guarantee to the court that they will pay the full bail amount if the defendant fails to appear. Defendants pay bail bond agents a nonrefundable fee, usually 10%-15% of the bail amount. If defendants miss court, bond agents are incentivized to locate and surrender them to avoid owing the court more money. Surety bonds provide the ability to get out of jail without putting up the entire bail amount themselves. These are the most common types of bonds in Texas.
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