Written by our Subject Matter Experts, Updated on September 26, 2019
Are you looking for a bail bond in Georgia or information on bail? We have a list of the most trusted bail bonds companies in Georgia so you can get in touch with a nearby licensed bondsman. Our bail experts also answer many important questions on how bail bonds work in Georgia and how much bail bonds cost.
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- How do bail bonds work in Georgia?
- How much is bail in Georgia?
- Find a bail bondsman near you in Georgia
How do bail bonds work in Georgia?
Knowing your bail options helps you better understand how bail bonds work in Georgia. Upon arrest anywhere in the state of Georgia, a person is usually processed at the local county jail. In order to be released from jail, several steps must occur, including being “booked in” and posting bail – the process of booking in typically consists of getting your mugshot and fingerprints taken, and having your arrest details put into the system. When the bail amount is confirmed, you will have a few bail bond options to consider before you can be released. After posting bail using one of the 4 options available to you, the jail release process begins and typically takes anywhere from one to two hours to complete.
Before using a bail bondsman, you should know all bail options in Georgia in order to be released from jail. Bail bondsmen will fall under surety, or bail bonds, which typically cost around 10 to 15% of the total bail amount. You cannot get this fee back in Georgia, no matter if you are guilty or not. It’s the cost of using a bail bondsman and the risk they take. In total, you have 4 bail out options to consider in Georgia.
- Own Recognizance Release in Georgia – The jail can release you on Own Recognizance (OR) which is typically used on smaller crimes committed and the judge finds you low risk and has strong confidence that you will show up to court. You don’t need to pay a fee and you simply sign documents promising to appear for your court cases, plus any other stipulations set by the Georgia jail system.
- Cash bail – You can always pay the bail amount with cash or a money order, but you have to pay the entire bail amount. The benefit here is that Georgia will give you back the full bail amount minus any administrative fees upon completion of court dates.
- Georgia Surety Bail Bonds – A Georgia bail bondsman can post the bail amount for you – you will pay the bondsman a fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount which you cannot get back.
- Georgia Property Bail Bonds – You can use personal property or land/home value that’s equal or greater than the bail amount. If you don’t show up to court or violate your release terms, the Georgia court will issue a warrant for your arrest and can take over your property.
Please know that getting a bail bonds from a Georgia bondsman may come with various contractual agreements. You will need to discuss the full terms with the bondsman, including all fees involved, and what the expectations are after release – do you need to check in with the bondsman on a weekly basis, is there a need for a tracking device, drug/alcohol test, and can you travel out of state? Some of this can be set by the Georgia court and the bondsman. Violating any of these bail processes can result in a warrant for your arrest in Georgia. Make sure to attend all your court cases or you’re breaking court and bail terms which will result in arrest.
How much is bail in Georgia?
The cost of a bail bond in Georgia can’t exceed 15%. There are a few exceptions, however. A bondsman can’t charge more than a 12% fee for any bonds under $10,000. The 15% max fee applies to anything over $10,000.
Minor offenses of $1,000 or less can typically be handled by simply using the driver’s license as collateral rather than a traditional bail bond fee. No other state except Georgia allows minor offenses to be handled in such a simple way.
Bail Bonds Near You in Georgia
Search for Georgia bail bonds companies via our form above; please make sure to enter the city AND state.
You can also check our city pages for a nearby Georgia bondsman.
Our Team of Subject Matter Experts
We dedicate ourselves to providing information that is accurate and expertly written in order to assist individuals through a difficult time. Our staff at Bail Bonds Network is highly educated, having obtained prestigious degrees in law, business, accounting, and finance. Our editorial staff includes professional lawyers, bail bondsmen, and lending experts who understand local jurisdictions and intricacies of legal matters dealing with bail bonds.An award-winning criminal defense attorney. He previously served as a state and federal prosecutor and magistrate, making his content contributions extremely relevant on legal and bail related topics.
