Cosigning a Bail Bond: What Are the Risks?
Thinking about cosigning a bail bond for someone? Here's a general overview of what that responsibility typically involves.
What cosigning generally means
Cosigning a bail bond typically means agreeing to take on financial and sometimes legal responsibility for making sure the person appears in court, alongside the bail bondsman.
Financial responsibility if the person doesn't appear
If the person fails to show up for a required court date, a cosigner can generally be held responsible for the full bail amount, not just the bondsman's fee, in many arrangements.
Collateral can be at risk
Some bail bond agreements require a cosigner to put up collateral, such as a home or vehicle, which can potentially be at risk if the person doesn't fulfill their court obligations.
The relationship with the defendant matters
Because a cosigner is taking on real financial exposure, it's worth having an honest conversation with the person about their intentions to appear in court and any history of missed appearances before agreeing to cosign.
Questions to ask before cosigning
Ask exactly what happens if a court date is missed, whether collateral is required, whether there are ways to be released from the obligation once the case resolves, and get everything in writing.
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