Cosigner guide
What you are agreeing to when you sign for someone
Read this before you sign. It is short, and it matters.
A cosigner agrees to
- Guarantee that the defendant appears at every court date
- Pay the premium, the fee for the bond, which is set by state law and is not returned
- Become responsible for the full bail amount if the defendant does not appear and cannot be found
- Tell the agency promptly if the defendant moves, changes phone number or cannot make a date
- Provide collateral on larger bonds, returned in full when the case closes
Who can cosign
Usually an adult with steady income or assets and a permanent address. Family members cosign most often, but a close friend or employer can too. What matters is that the cosigner knows the defendant well enough to be confident they will appear.
What you need to bring
Government photo identification, proof of address and proof of income. On larger bonds, the documents for any collateral offered, such as a vehicle title or property deed.
If something goes wrong
Call the agency the moment a date is missed or the defendant cannot be reached. A bond can often be reinstated if the court is contacted quickly, and early action protects the cosigner more than anything else can.
Cosigner questions
In many cases a cosigner can ask to be released from the bond, which usually means the defendant returns to custody unless another cosigner steps in. Talk to us before deciding; there are often better options.
It is held, not spent. When the case closes and the bond is exonerated, collateral is returned in full. It is only at risk if the defendant fails to appear and cannot be located.
No. A cosigner guarantees appearance, not innocence or guilt. The verdict has no effect on the bond as long as every court date is kept.
Questions before you sign?
Call and ask. We would rather spend ten minutes explaining than have a cosigner sign something they do not understand.
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