Written by our Subject Matter Experts, Updated on September 25, 2019
Are you looking for a bail bond in Tennessee or information on bail? We have a list of the most trusted bail bonds companies in Tennessee 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 Tennessee and how much bail bonds cost.
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- How do bail bonds work in Tennessee?
- How much is bail in Tennessee?
- Find a bail bondsman near you in Tennessee
How do bail bonds work in Tennessee?
Bail Bonds Network helps you locate and contact a licensed bail bond agent in Tennessee. Numerous Tennessee bail bonds companies can post bail for you or your loved one 24/7, and installment payment plans are usually available to help with the unexpected expense.
Before using a bail bondsman, you should know how all bail options work in Tennessee. Bail bondsmen will fall under surety, or bail bonds, where they will bail you out for a 10% fee. You cannot get this 10% fee back, no matter if you are guilty or not. It’s the cost of using a bail bondsman and the risk they take.
To avoid the 10% fee, you can pay in cash but you have to pay the entire bail amount.
The jail can also release you on Own Recognizance (OR) which is typically used on smaller crimes committed in Tennessee. This applies if the judge sees you as low risk and has strong confidence that you will show up to court. There is no fee with Own Recognizance and you have no out of pocket cost to be released from a Tennessee jail.
You can also be released from jail in Tennessee by using a Property Bond. You will need 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 Tennessee court will issue a warrant for your arrest and can take over your property.
Knowing your bail options helps you better understand how bail bonds work in Tennessee. The next step is to know what to expect upon arrest anywhere in the state of Tennessee. A person must be processed at the local county jail which means taking your mugshot and having your fingerprints taken.
To be released from jail, a few steps must occur, including being booked and posting bail. When the bail bond amount is decided, you can pay the full amount or a bail bonds agent can post the bail bond at the local jail. After bail is posted, the release process begins and typically takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to complete.
How much is bail in Tennessee?
Understand what costs are associated with bail so you can make the best financial decision. Tennessee has a firm 10% bail bond fee that is charged for all bail bonds in the state. The court will also charge $37 in administrative costs so keep that in mind when thinking of the total out-of-pocket cost.
With the cost being set at 10% in Tennessee, you know that your fee will be the same no matter which bondsman you choose, however contact a few bail bondsman to see what type of rules they have in place upon release. Are there any other contractual rules outside of bail bond fees?
For example, requirements on tracking devices, check-ins, travel rules outside of the state of Tennessee and any drug or alcohol tests. While these bail bond stipulations are not actual direct money costs, they do take up your time from school and work and increase your risk of not meeting your release obligations.
Bail Bonds Near You in Tennessee
Search for Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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.