Texas Bail Bonds FAQs

How Much Do Bail Bonds Typically Cost?

When you post bail, you will pay the amount of bail that was set by the court. If you are able to pay the full amount of bail, you can make this payment to the court via cash or check, and at the conclusion of your case, this amount will be returned to you. In some cases, you may also be able to sign over the rights to property with a cash value equal to or more than the amount of bail, or you may provide a promise to pay the full amount of bail if you do not appear in court as required.

If you are unable to pay the full amount of bail, Doc's Bail Bonds can post bail on your behalf. You will usually only be required to pay us 10% of the full bond amount. Our bail agents will post the bond once the premium is paid.

Doc's has a minimum bond fee of around $125 for a bond of $350 set by the court. The fee on a $500 bond is around $150, for a $750 bond, the fee is around $175. As you can see, for smaller bond amounts and less serious crimes, the fee charged is not based on a percentage of the bail. We do not charge a percentage until the bond gets up into the thousands. For example, the fee on a $4,000 bond is usually $400 for a first time offender. For someone who has been arrested a number of times, the fees may be higher. If a person has had a bond forfeiture in the past, or if there are other risk factors, the prices will typically go up.

What Are My Options for Paying for a Bail Bond?

The easiest option for paying bail bond fees is to make a one-time payment via cash, check, or credit card. If necessary, you can also sign over collateral or property like a house, car, jewelry, or other goods that can help guarantee that the defendant will show up to court. If you need help financing a bond with a short term payment plan, we can provide you with affordable and flexible options, and we never perform credit checks.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Person Bailed Out of a Jail or Detention Center?

Doc's Bail Bonds processes bail 24-hours a day, 7 days a week; we never close. Generally, it takes one to three hours to get someone out of jail. The time needed will depend on the circumstances of the case, how crowded the jail is, the court and police booking processes, and the ability to get your paperwork submitted quickly and approved.

When contacting a bail agent, you can help speed the process along by providing as much information as possible, including the inmate's full name, the jail where they are being held, and their booking number. If necessary, we can help you locate an inmate, and our bail agents can meet with you at a jail or courthouse to post bail or at one of our offices. We can also handle paperwork and payments over the phone or electronically.

What Is Needed to Get a Bail Bond Done?

The following information is needed to bail someone out of jail:

• The full name of the person who was arrested.
• Where the person is being held in custody, including the name of the jail and the city and county where they were arrested.
• The person's booking number, which can be found by calling the correctional institution where they are being held. If this information is not available, our bail agents will be able to look it up at a later time.
• The charges against the person.
• The amount of bail set by the court. Doc's Bail Bonds can get this information when contacting the jail, but if you know the amount, it will be easier for us to tell you the amount you will need to pay to post bond, as well as any other requirements that must be met to get the person out of jail.
• Any other important information about the arrest.

What Do I Need to Do After Getting Released From Jail?

When bail is posted, a defendant will sign a statement that says they will appear in court at the required time, which is generally called "being released on your own recognizance." After being released, the defendant is required to appear at all court hearings, and they must follow any conditions set by the court and bail agent. If the defendant does not show up to court, the bail agent must pay the court the full bond amount. In these cases, the bail agent will find the defendant and return them to jail.

Keep in mind, if the defendant does not appear in court as required, or if they violate any conditions the judge put in place, you may forfeit any collateral that you signed over to pay the bond. So long as the defendant follows all of the terms of bail and appears for all required court dates, you should not have any problems. The bond is then exonerated or completed when the case is finalized, and whether the defendant is determined to be guilty or innocent, both the co-signer and the defendant will no longer have any financial obligations.