Bail Bondsman Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Bail Bondsman, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Bail Bondsman?

(n) Bail Bondsman is the person functioning as the agent of the insurance companies which issues security bonds covering the risk involved in releasing a defendant in judicial custody until the conclusion of the trial. Such bonds are released once the judgment is made and the company charge the defendants for the services. They may also takes collateral securities from them.

History and Meaning of Bail Bondsman

A bail bondsman is a licensed agent who acts as a surety, providing an accused person with the necessary funds to post bail and be released from jail, in return for a non-refundable fee. The bondsman may also take collateral to ensure that the accused person shows up in court for their trial. Bail bondsmen have been around in the United States since the late 19th century and were originally created to help people who couldn't afford to pay bail to get out of jail.

Examples of Bail Bondsman

  1. John was arrested for a DUI and had a bail set at $10,000. He couldn't afford to pay the full amount, so he contacted a bail bondsman who provided him with the necessary money to be released from jail.

  2. Mary's son was arrested and had a bail set at $50,000. Mary decided to use her home as collateral and contacted a bail bondsman who agreed to provide the funds to secure her son's release.

  3. When Alex was arrested for shoplifting, his bail was set at $2,500. He contacted a bail bondsman who charged him a 10% non-refundable fee and provided the necessary funds to be released from jail.

Legal Terms Similar to Bail Bondsman

  1. Bond Forfeiture: The loss of collateral or bail money when a defendant fails to appear in court.
  2. Bounty Hunter: A person who tracks down fugitives who have skipped bail.
  3. Surety Bond: A bond that guarantees the performance of a contract or obligation, often used to ensure that a defendant will appear in court.