Asked 4/23/2016 – Austin, TX

I was told bail was $10,000 for a friend. I put it up and later was told it turned out to be only $1,600 and the rest went to attorney fees. I don’t remember authorizing this? The bail bondsman said that just the way it works? Is this right?

Answer

If you agree to pay a bond company $10,000 to get someone out of jail, and the bond company gets the person out of jail, what they do with THEIR money is up to them. Once you signed the bond agreement and paid for the services, the bond company can pay whoever they choose to. Your friend has the option to retain another attorney, at his or her own additional costs.