Whether it’s your child, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, best friend, or acquaintance (if you’re particularly kind-hearted), bailing someone out of a Dallas jail is a huge financial responsibility, and oftentimes requires you to take a leap of faith. If the defendant ends up missing their trial, you may need to apply for bond remission after forfeiture.
When you get a bail bond, there’s less of a financial burden on you since you don’t have to pay the full bail amount– just 10%. But you’ll still lose all of the money and collateral that you put down if the person you bond out skips their court hearing.
Here at Delta Bail Bonds, we don’t think you should be punished for trying to help someone you care about get out of a tough situation. For people that regularly do their best to help others, it can come as a surprise when others let you down. While we can’t do much about the hurt and disappointment you’re probably feeling right about now, we can give you some advice about how to get your bond money back before it’s too late. If the person you bail out of jail runs, you should apply for a bond remission after forfeiture.
Can I Get My Bail Money Back If The Person I Bond Out Skips Their Hearing?
A bail bond is essentially a promise that the defendant will appear at their court hearings. If they show up, you’ll get all of your bail money back no matter what the jury’s verdict is. When you work with a Dallas bail bondsman, you’ll get everything back except for the 10% fee you place for us to place the bail bond and help you place less upfront.
Unfortunately, if the accused skips their court hearing, you become civilly liable for 100% of the bail amount. To avoid paying up and tanking your own personal finances, you can talk to our bondsmen in Dallas and McKinney about recovering the elusive defendant and obtaining a bond remission after forfeiture.
What Is Bond Remission After Forfeiture?
If you’re reading this, you’re probably intimately familiar with bond forfeiture, aka the government seizing the money you put down for bail or a bail bond. This happens when a defendant fails to appear at their hearing.
When the accused is a no-show, the clerk of court sends a notice of forfeiture to the bonding agency, and they pay the bail amount in full. At this point, you become responsible for paying back the bonding agency unless you can prove:
- The defendant wasn’t properly notified about their court date
- That the defendant died before their trial
- There were extreme, extenuating circumstances preventing them from appearing
- The defendant was too ill to appear in court
Recover The Defendant To Keep Your Money
Bail bond companies don’t have to pay the full bail amount if they return the defendant to jail before the forfeiture is due. This means that if you help return the defendant, you wouldn’t owe your bail bondsman anything.
If this is done post-forfeiture and pre-final forfeiture judgment, the court will sometimes return either a percentage of the bail bond or the full amount. You can also file a Remission of Bond Forfeiture application for up to two years, and the governor may choose to return the funds.
Texas Bond Remission After Forfeiture Application
Here’s where we get into how you can save your money from going to the government.
If you want to get the bond money you posted back, begin the process here. Applying for bond remission after forfeiture can be a lengthy process, but if you follow the directions carefully, the Governor of Texas may choose to return the money. The key things to remember are that all documents must be court-certified and you must also be compliant with Board Rule §143.73 Remission of Bond Forfeiture.
Delta Bail Bonds– Dallas’ Top Bonding Agency
Here at Delta Bail Bonds, we’re dedicated to informing the public about their options and ensuring they have a positive experience working with our bondsmen. This is the information we have to think the people of Dallas need to know. Call today and request more information or drop by one of our offices to apply for a bail bond. Need more information about what do after an arrest? Check out our free guide here.
