Wichita Bail Bonds Blog

When you cosign a bail bond, you agree to take financial responsibility for the bond amount and ensure that the defendant appears in court. If you fail to pay what you owe to the bail bondsman or if the defendant violates the terms of the bond, you can face serious financial and legal consequences. In Kansas and other states, the bail bond is a legally binding contract, meaning the bail agency has the right to collect from you if the agreement is broken.

Your Role As A Cosigner

By signing a bail bond, you are guaranteeing that the defendant will attend all court hearings. You are also agreeing to pay the bondsman’s fee, typically ten percent of the total bail amount. For example, if the bail is set at $20,000, you would owe around $2,000 as the non-refundable premium. The cosigner’s promise covers both the bond fee and any costs if the defendant fails to appear in court.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay

• Collection action – The bail bond company can take legal action against you for the unpaid balance. This can include sending your account to collections or filing a civil lawsuit.
• Loss of collateral – If you pledged property, such as a car or home, the company can seize and sell it to recover the debt.
• Credit damage – Failure to pay a bail bond debt can severely hurt your credit score if the debt is reported or sent to a collection agency.
• Interest and fees – Late payments may add additional costs, including interest, legal fees, or repossession charges.

If The Defendant Fails To Appear

• The bail bondsman becomes responsible for paying the full bail amount to the court.
• As the cosigner, you must reimburse the bondsman for that full amount, not just the 10% fee.
• The bondsman may hire a recovery agent (bounty hunter) to locate and return the defendant, and those costs can also be charged to you.
• Any property used as collateral could be forfeited if the defendant is not returned to custody or fails to appear in time.

How To Protect Yourself

• Only cosign for someone you fully trust to appear in court and follow their release conditions.
• Read the bail bond agreement carefully before signing and ask questions about payment terms, collateral, and refund policies.
• If the defendant disappears, contact the bail agent immediately. Cooperating early can sometimes reduce the amount you owe or prevent total forfeiture.

If you cosign a bail bond and do not pay, the bail bond company can sue you, take your collateral, and harm your credit. You may also be responsible for the full bond amount if the defendant fails to appear. Always treat a bail bond contract as a serious financial obligation and only cosign if you are certain the defendant will meet all court requirements.