What Does Bail Bond Surrender Mean Exactly?
by Albane Francois
Most transactions with bail companies go smoothly. The defendant gets out of jail, attends all their court appointments, and completes the requirements of the bond contract without any problems. Sometimes, though, issues come up that result in the termination of a defendant's bail contract, which is called bail bond surrender. Here's what that means and what you can do if it happens in your case.
The Bail Agent Cancels the Contract
Bail bond surrender can occur in one of two ways, with the first being the outcome of the bail company itself deciding to cancel the contract. In most cases, the bondsman decides to take this action because the defendant did something that made the company think it would lose money if it continued to cover the person.
For instance, the defendant fails to show up for several court appointments. The bondsman may feel there's a good chance the defendant may attempt to flee, which would cause the court to forfeit their bail. The company may decide to cancel the contract and return the defendant back to jail to avoid losing money in that situation.
The bail company will typically notify you of their intention to cancel your bond. Your first step is to contact the bondsman to see what their concerns are and try to work things out. If the company is set on continuing with the cancellation, then look for another company that is willing to take you on as a client. As a last resort, you can pay the bail amount directly to the court if you have the money available.
The Cosigner Revokes the Bail Bond
People who cosign on bail bonds retain the right to cancel the contract at any time and, unfortunately, this does happen. As with the bondsman, the cosigner may feel it's too risky to continue being held responsible for the defendant because of the defendant's actions (or lack of action).
In some cases, the cosigner and defendant may have a falling out that makes the cosigner feel canceling the contract is the best option. In others, the cosigner may have had a change in their financial circumstances that make it impossible for them to take on the responsibility of paying the bond should it be revoked by the court.
This situation can be a little more challenging to overcome. You can ask the bondsman to let you sign the contract without a cosigner or shop around for another company that will. If they all decline, however, then you'll need to find someone else who will act as a guarantor for you.
It can be scary to have your bail bond surrendered. However, it's best to keep calm and contact a bail bondsman to discuss your options for staying out of jail. For more information, contact a local bail bond company.
Share
About Me
How many times have you put off making repairs around your home because you didn't have the money to make them immediately? Have those decisions caused even more repair bills because you waited to make the repairs? I have done this several times in the past, and, oftentimes, not making those repairs have cost me far more to complete because the damage spread. The whole reason I created my blog was to help others find the financing they need to make home repairs without worrying about choosing the wrong type of financing option. Hopefully, my hard-learned lessons will help you avoid the same struggles that I have undergone.