Asked 6/20/2016 – Houston, TX

Bailed some one out of jail. They missed their court date and did not turn their self in to custody. Months later they got rearrested. I want to know do I still have to pay the bail bond from the previous time since the person is now in custody.

Answer

The short answer is yes, you are responsible to the bond company. Since the defendant did not appear in court as directed, the bond company must pay the court the amount of the bond. When you co-signed on the bond, you agreed that if the defendant did not appear in court and the bonds company had to pay the bond, you would repay the bond company. That’s what happened. You only should pay, however, what the bond company had to pay on the bond forfeiture. The fact the defendant has been re-arrested MAY have affected the amount the bond company has to pay.