What Happens If You Don’t Pay Bail Bonds In California?

The short answer to that question is probably jail, but we want to give you more than a short answer so that you’re knowledgeable on all things bail bond related.

How do bail bonds work?

Bail bond agencies sign a surety bond with the courts for you after you pay their premium or set up a payment plan for their premium – 10% of the full bail amount. That secure document will grant you release from jail with the promise that you’ll attend all court hearings.

Essentially, this means that the bond agency is trusting you to appear in court and give them their cash. If you disappear and stop paying the bondsman, they are within their right to seek legal action. This can mean hiring a bounty hunter to locate you and bring you back to jail without bail.

In addition, at any point and time, a bondsman has the right to withdraw their offer of responsibility to the surety bond. This means that the defendant can be taken into custody immediately.

Does the type of case matter?

Absolutely not. Not when you’re working with a bail bondsman. The circumstances of your case are irrelevant to the contract.

However, some people think that if they’re case is cleared and they are deemed innocent, the contract with the bond company will be void. That is not true. A dismissed case does not change the terms you have set with the bondsman, and if you do not pay the premium in full via one payment or a payment plan, you can have legal action taken against you.

The same goes if you are found guilty and back in jail; the premium must be paid in full or via a payment plan. You cannot get away with failure to pay.

How can you avoid going back to jail?

First things first, don’t miss payments on your bail bond premium. If you do, the company will most likely remove themselves from the situation and you’ll end up back in jail. To make sure you’re free from prison from now until your court date, follow these thorough steps:

• Find a credible and reputable bail bond company to work with. They should have a large portfolio of defendants they’ve helped in California.
• Thoroughly read and make sure you understand the full terms of your contract before signing. That includes premiums, repayment options, and due dates.
• Do not commit any other crimes before or during trial that could make your financial issues even worse.

If the bail bond company takes back their surety bond from the courts, what happens?

This is far from an ideal situation, but it’s not the absolute worst thing in the world that could happen. You can still do a few things to avoid jail:

• Post bail yourself using a relative or friend’s help.
• Try to use another bail bonds agency and start a new premium.
• Discuss options with your lawyer and see if there’s a way to lower the cash bail amount due.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Synergy Bail Bonds. Our bondsmen are waiting by the phone to help you in any way that they can. Details on the process and discounts are available via this link. Resources and additional FAQ are also present. Contact us today for help.  

Remember, the worst thing to do is sign up with a bail bonds company and bail out on them. You don’t want additional legal action being taken against you while you’re waiting for a court date. That may make charges against you worse, so let’s lessen the fire where we can.