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Getting Your Bail Bond Money Back?

Getting Your Bail Bond Money Back

After you have had the misfortune of bailing someone out of jail there is going to come a time where you wonder whether or not you are going to get your money back. However, you are going to have to think back to when you originally posted the bail. This is because when you post bail for someone you are given two options. Either you:

  1. Can pay the fee directly to the court
  2. You can use a bondsman to pay the fee

Naturally, which option you took is going to sway how and when you get your bail money back.

How Do Bail Bonds Work?

Find Out The Case Status

You are not going to be able to get your money back until after either the defendant has been acquitted or the charged against them have been dropped. In the event that the individual is found guilty, your bail money will go towards the court fees. Unfortunately, if this happens you will not be able to get your money back.

Review Your Option

Once you know the status of the case, you need to remember whether you used a bail bondsman or if you paid the fee directly to the court. If you were able to pay the court directly, you should have no trouble receiving a full refund for the amount you paid. However, if you decided to, or had to, use a bail bondman chances are pretty good that you only paid anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of the total bail amount. This amount is considered the bondsman’s fee and you will not get any of your money back.

Your Bail Bond Money Back

Find The End Day of The Case

Figuring out when you are going to get your money back is all about knowing exactly when the case ended. Keep in mind, if you happen to move or any of your contact information changes you need to contact the court immediately to let them know. This is because if you actually want to receive your refund check it is important that they have your current address on file.

Finally, you will just have to wait anywhere from two to six weeks after the case has ended for the court to send your refund check in the mail. If six weeks pass and you do not receive the check in the mail, you should contact the court. When you call them, you are just inquiring if there was a problem with them issuing the refund check on the bail money that you paid. You will need to provide them with some information in order for them to look through their records to determine if there was a problem. This may include your contact information, the case number, and when the case ended.

Disclaimer

This article contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. The Law Dictionary is not a law firm, and this page does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

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