If you or someone you know gets arrested, the court will usually set bail, which must be paid to get out of a Georgia jail. Often the bail is a high amount that most people cannot afford to pay. This is where a bail bond comes in. According to Money Crashers, a bail bond is paid by a bail bondsman on your behalf. You will have to put up a percentage of the bail to secure the bond. You may also have to put up a valuable asset to secure the bond.
However, the process does not end there. The purpose of bail is to ensure that the person who was arrested shows up in court. Bail may also be set with other restrictions, such as reporting in with the court on a regular basis until the court date or include additional orders, such as a restraining order. If the person violates the terms of the bail or does not show up to his or her court date, then the bail is revoked and the person is sent back to jail.
If the person shows up to court and abides by the terms of the bail order, then you can get your money back. The person must complete the court process and the case must be closed before money can be returned. If a bondsman put up the bail, then the money returns to him or her. If the person violates the terms of the bail, then no money is returned. If you used a bail bond, this means you become liable and your asset used to secure the bond may be taken if you cannot pay back the money the bondsman put up. This information is for education and is not legal advice.