A bail bond is an agreement by a criminal defendant to appear for trial or pay a sum of money set by the court. The bail bond is cosigned by a bail bondsman, who charges the defendant a fee in return for guaranteeing the payment. The bail bond is a type of surety bond.

What can bail bondsman do?

These bail bond agents have the power to apprehend those who do not come to court, and many require you to provide some kind of collateral, such as jewellery, electronics, houses or even, in one case, a winning lottery ticket.

Why do you need a bail bondsman?

A judge sets a bail amount. If the defendant cannot pay the bail amount on their own, they can seek help from a Bail bondsman in the form of a Bail Bond. ... If defendant fails to appear in court: The Bail Bond is forfeited and the court requires the remaining 90% of the bail to be paid.