Charges

• According to the California Department of Insurance website, the courts will determine the amount of the bond for the incarcerated person. The person posting bail will normally pay about 10 percent of the total bond in addition to any expense the bail agent accrued during the transaction. This could include long-distance phone calls, posting fees, skip tracing expenses, attorney fees and court costs. Bail agents are required to file rates with the Department of Insurance, so a visible rate chart should always be available inside a California bail bond office.
  
  

Bail Bond Contract

• When a person is posting bail for someone in jail, she is signing a contract that she agrees to certain requirements. The person is agreeing to pay the percentage of the bond needed to post bail and provide collateral, which can be cash or a deed. The person posting bail also agrees to inform the bail agent of any changes of address or employment of the jailed person. If the incarcerated person skips out and does not show for his court date, the person posting bail also agrees to help the agent find the person. The California Department of Insurance recommends reading the contract thoroughly and making sure every aspect of the contract is understood.
  
  

Purpose of Bail Bond

• Bail bonds allow a person who is suspected of a criminal offense to get out of jail until his court date, according to the California Department of Insurance. Posting bail lets the person resume his normal life until the criminal offense goes to court and he is found either innocent or guilty.
  
  

Length of Contract

• According to the California Department of Insurance, bail bonds last for however long the case runs. However, if a case runs longer than a year, a bail agent can ask for a renewal premium. Money paid toward a bail bond is nonrefundable.
  
  

Reduction of Responsibility

• While rare, a court may reduce the bail amount. If this does occur, the agreement between the bail agent and the person posting bail should be changed to reflect the new bail amount. According to the California Department of Insurance, a reduction of bail does not result in a refund of any paid premiums. However, partial collateral may be returned and any renewal premiums will be reduced.