Wichita Bail Bonds Blog

When someone is arrested and bail is set, it’s often possible to work with a bail bondsman to get out of jail without paying the full amount. In most cases, you only pay 10% of the total bond because that fee acts as a service charge for the bail bond company. The bondsman covers the rest by posting a surety bond with the court, promising that the full bail will be paid if the defendant fails to appear. This 10% payment is standard industry practice and is set by state laws in many areas.

Why Only 10% Is Paid

The 10% you pay is the cost of using a bail bondsman. It’s a non-refundable premium that covers their risk and service. Instead of paying the full amount yourself, the bondsman acts as your financial backer, posting the full bail on your behalf.

• Bail bondsmen post the full bail amount – You only pay a portion (usually 10%)
• The 10% fee is non-refundable – It’s the cost of the bail bond service
• The bondsman guarantees the court – That the defendant will appear for all required hearings

This system allows people to secure release from jail even if they can’t afford to pay the full bond out of pocket.

What Happens to the Other 90%?

You don’t pay the other 90% unless the defendant violates bond conditions or fails to appear in court. If that happens, the court can demand the full bail from the bondsman, and the bondsman will then try to collect that money from the signer or the collateral.

• If the defendant complies, the bond is dissolved at the end of the case
• If the defendant skips court, the full bail becomes due
• The bondsman can seize collateral or file lawsuits to recover losses

Why Not Just Pay the Full Bail?

If you have the full amount in cash, you can post the entire bail directly to the court and get it back at the end of the case, assuming the defendant follows all court orders. But many people can’t afford large bail amounts, so paying 10% to a bondsman is often the only affordable option.

• Paying full bail = full refund if all conditions are met
• Paying 10% = no refund, but much more affordable upfront

You only pay 10% of a bond because that’s the standard fee charged by bail bondsmen to secure a person’s release. It allows people who can’t afford full bail to get out of jail while awaiting trial. The remaining 90% is covered by the bondsman unless the defendant fails to appear, in which case the full amount may be owed. The 10% is not returned, it’s the price of the service.