What Happens if the Person I Bailed Out Doesn’t Show Up for Court in TN?

Most of us understand, either from our own experience or otherwise, that it can be a risky idea to cosign on a loan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3WdH5HcXHs. If the borrower defaults, for whatever reason, the cosigner is financially responsible for the entire unpaid balance of the loan.

For the most part, the same thing applies if you post bail for someone else and that person misses a court date or otherwise tries to skip bail.   The same situation applies to a failure to pay any remaining bail bond premium as well.

Dealing with Failure to Appear Situations

If the person you bail out skips their court date in Shelby County, a bench warrant will be issued and the original bail bond goes into conditional forfeiture status.  Once the bail bond goes into conditional forfeiture status, the court will notify the bail bond agent and the defendant. The bail bond company has 180 days from the date that the defendant misses court to accomplish one of the following:

  1. Make contact with the defendant and have he or she come to court with an attorney in an attempt to get the warrant recalled.  More often than not, the judge will recall the warrant and give the defendant a new court date. If this occurs, the defendant can remain out of jail on the original bail bond.
  2. The defendant may get arrested through a traffic stop, turning him or herself in, or due to a new criminal charge.  After this happens, whether or not to allow the defendant to remain out on the original bail bond is at the bail bond company’s discretion.
  3. The bail bond company may (and most likely will if too much time passes without #1 or #2 occuring) issue the file to a fugitive recovery agent.  The fugitive recovery agent is tasked with arresting the defendant and putting him or her back in jail.

If neither #1, #2 or #3 are accomplished within 180 days after the date that the defendant misses court, the bonding company will be required to pay the full amount of the bail bond.  At this point, the cosigner on the bail bond is legally liable for reimbursing the bail bond company for the money that is paid to the court for the defendant’s bond.

If neither #1, #2 or #3 are accomplished within 180 days after the date that the defendant misses court, the bonding company will be required to pay the full amount of the bail bond.  At this point, the cosigner on the bail bond is legally liable for reimbursing the bail bond company for the money that is paid to the court for the defendant’s bond.

Failure to Pay a Remaining Premium Balance

It is also important to understand that, if the bail bond company finances any part of the premium on a bail bond that you cosign, you are legally responsible for paying the remaining balance of the premium to the bail bond company if the defendant does not do so.

United Bonding is here to help.

At United Bonding Company, our experienced agents understand the judicial system and can help make sense of it for you.  We provide quick and efficient bonding services for when you want to get yourself or your loved ones out of jail. Call United Bonding Company at (901) 577-1138 because they are available 24/7 every day of the year, are licensed to write bonds in the Shelby County Juvenile Court, and give a fast and confidential release from jail. United Bonding Company has served the greater Memphis area and Western Tennessee over 12 years and a Member of the TAPBA Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents https://www.tapba.org/.

*DISCLAIMER**

Please be advised that www.bailbondmemphis.com and United Bonding Company is not an attorney or law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, you are strongly encouraged to consider consulting with a competent attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide you with legal advice on your particular matter given that individual state, county or city laws may vary. www.bailbondmemphis.com provides INFORMATION ONLY and the information provided is for informational purposes only AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR LEGAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk.


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