South Carolina Bail Bond Calculator

Bail bond agents in South Carolina

Professional bondsmen, surety bondsmen and runners must be licensed under the bondsman chapter (accommodation bondsmen excepted). (S.C. Code § 38-53-80)

No person may act in the capacity of a professional bondsman, surety bondsman, or runner or perform any of the functions, duties, or powers prescribed for professional or surety bondsmen or runners under the provisions of this chapter unless that person is qualified, except for an accommodation bondsman, licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

The premium may not exceed 15 percent of the bond, with a minimum fee of $100 or 10 percent of the bond, whichever is greater, collected before the bond is executed. (S.C. Code § 38-53-170(e))

(e) accept anything of value from a principal except the premium, which may not exceed fifteen percent of the face amount of the bond, with a minimum fee of one hundred dollars or ten percent of the bond, whichever is greater, that must be charged and collected by the bondsman before the execution of the bond.

Percentage deposit with the court in South Carolina

The court may permit a cash deposit with the clerk of up to 10 percent of the bond, returned when the defendant fulfills the bond's condition. (S.C. Code § 17-15-15)

the court setting bond may permit the defendant to deposit in cash with the clerk of court an amount not to exceed ten percent of the amount of bond set, which amount, when the defendant fulfills the condition of the bond, must be returned to the defendant by the clerk except as provided in subsection (C).

Note: Subsection (D), added by 2023 Act No. 83 (effective June 20, 2023), excludes violent offenses and certain firearm felonies.

Cash bail in South Carolina

A person charged with a noncapital offense is released on own recognizance unless the court finds that will not assure appearance or would create unreasonable danger. (S.C. Code § 17-15-10(A))

A person charged with a noncapital offense triable in either the magistrates, county or circuit court, shall, at his appearance before any of such courts, be ordered released pending trial on his own recognizance without surety in an amount specified by the court, unless the court determines in its discretion that such a release will not reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required, or unreasonable danger to the community or an individual will result.

A person who deposited money in lieu of a bond may apply to the court to get it back once its purpose is accomplished. (S.C. Code § 17-15-220)

The person so depositing a sum of money in lieu of a bond, recognizance or undertaking shall be entitled upon application to the court wherein such deposit has been made, and subject to the order under which such fund is held, to receive back such sum of money whenever the purposes for which it has been received and deposited have been accomplished

How bail is set in South Carolina

The state constitution makes all persons bailable by sufficient sureties before conviction, but bail may be denied for capital, life or violent offenses. (S.C. Const. art. I, § 15)

All persons shall be, before conviction, bailable by sufficient sureties, but bail may be denied to persons charged with capital offenses or offenses punishable by life imprisonment, or with violent offenses defined by the General Assembly, giving due weight to the evidence and to the nature and circumstances of the event.

If a court date is missed in South Carolina

If the surety does not surrender the defendant or place a hold within 90 days of the bench warrant, the bond is forfeited. (S.C. Code § 38-53-70)

If the surety fails to surrender the defendant or place a hold on the defendant's release from incarceration, commitment, or institutionalization within ninety days of the issuance of the bench warrant, the bond is forfeited.

Note: Rewritten by 2023 Act No. 83, § 14, effective June 20, 2023.

For the rest of what can follow a missed date, see missed court in South Carolina.