Tarrant County Bail Bonds
After being charged with a felony offense, you will proceed through an arraignment hearing, during which the judge may set bail. Bail is simply an amount of money paid to the court as security that you will appear at all future court hearings. If bail is set (rather than being released on your own recognizance), you will have the option of paying the full amount or putting up the value of personal property as security. At the conclusion of your criminal case, you will be repaid the amount you paid in bail.
If bail is set sufficiently high that you are not able to pay with personal resources, you may secure the services of a bail bondsman or deal directly with a criminal defense attorney who is authorized to handle surety bonds. Bondsmen generally require you to pay a set percentage of your bail amount as the fee they charge for putting up a bond for the remainder of the bail. If you (or your attorney) do not appear at a required hearing, your bondsman risks losing personal assets for the bulk of the bail amount. The bail bond remains in place through the final disposition of your case. If you appear at all required hearings, your bondsman keeps your portion of the payment as the fee for his services, but the bail bond is returned.
Our Firm Can Handle Your Bond Needs
Many counties in Texas require criminal defense attorneys to set up an account for collateral for the bond. Not every criminal defense law firm is ready to do that. At the law offices of David E. Cook, we will serve as your bail bond agent, allowing you to work with a single law firm throughout your case. You will find our bond fees competitive and our services more responsive than most private bail bond services in the region.
After You Make Bail
When you make bail, either with your own resources or by securing the services of a bail bondsman or bonding attorney, you are under court supervision, but free to pursue your normal daily activities. Typically, you will be required to attend all of the hearings relative to your case. During the pretrial period, you will work closely with your attorney to make decisions about your options.
We invite you to learn more about the criminal justice process by visiting these pages:
- The felony process
- Stages of a criminal case
- Court hearings and what to expect
- Bail bond FAQs
- The misdemeanor process
- What is a writ of habeas corpus?
- Helping your own cause
Work With an Experienced Lawyer
Learn more about how we can help you with your criminal defense needs and the bond process. Schedule a free consultation with an experienced Fort Worth criminal defense lawyer. Contact us by calling 817-545-3309 or reach us by e-mail to set up an appointment.
