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WHAT IS A BAIL BOND?
A bail bond, “An Appearance Bond,” is a document of obligation placed with the court to secure the release of a defendant. This bail bond guarantees that a defendant will appear in court whenever and as many times as the court demands, till the charge or charges stated on the bail bond is adjudicated. If the defendant fails to appear before the court as instructed, the bail bond becomes due and payable to the court for the face amount stated on the bail bond.
Q. How would I qualify for a bail bond?
A. When speaking with a bail agent, you will be asked several questions pertaining to your financial, employment and living situation. During this process, it would be determined based on the amount of the bond if property or collateral will be needed to secure the bond prior to pre-qualifying you as the indemnitor (cosigner.)
Q. What happens if the charges are dropped the next day or two after a bond is posted for me? Can I get my money back?
A. Once the defendant is released from the jail, the money paid to the bail bond agent has been earned and cannot be returned. It is the same whether the charges are dropped the next day or after a full trial.
Q. How long is the bail process?
A. The paperwork takes approximately 15-25 minutes, depending on the complexity of the transaction. The release time can be one hour or less for Chelan County Jail. Please remember that these times are not guaranteed but general time frames.
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