Texas Bail Bond Calculator

Bail bond agents in Texas

In a county with a bail bond board, a person must hold that board's license to act as a bail bond surety or agent for a corporate surety. (Tex. Occ. Code § 1704.151)

Sec. 1704.151. LICENSE REQUIRED. Except as provided by Section 1704.163, a person may not act as a bail bond surety or as an agent for a corporate surety in the county unless the person holds a license issued under this chapter.

Note: Text read from the Texas Legislature's statute file server (tcss.legis.texas.gov) behind statutes.capitol.texas.gov. A board exists in each county of 110,000 or more (§ 1704.051).

The Texas Department of Insurance does not regulate bail bond rates. (Texas Department of Insurance)

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) does not regulate forms, rules or rates for bail bonds.

Bail agents are licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance (corporate sureties); county bail bond boards license bondsmen, where a license can be checked and a complaint filed.

Cash bail in Texas

Instead of having sureties sign the bond, the defendant may deposit cash in the amount of the bond with the court’s custodian of funds. (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.02)

the defendant on execution of the bail bond may deposit with the custodian of funds of the court in which the prosecution is pending current money of the United States in the amount of the bond in lieu of having sureties signing the same

Note: Text read from the Texas Legislature statute file server (tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/CR/htm/CR.17.htm) behind statutes.capitol.texas.gov.

Cash posted in place of sureties is refunded on court order after the defendant complies with the bond, less any applicable county administrative fee. (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.02)

Any cash funds deposited under this article shall be receipted for by the officer receiving the funds and, on order of the court, be refunded in the amount shown on the face of the receipt less the administrative fee authorized by Section 117.055, Local Government Code, if applicable

Note: Text read from the Texas Legislature's statute file server (tcss.legis.texas.gov) behind statutes.capitol.texas.gov.

How bail is set in Texas

The state constitution makes all prisoners bailable by sufficient sureties, except capital offences when the proof is evident, with further exceptions in later sections. (Tex. Const. art. I, § 11)

Sec. 11. BAIL. All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offences†, when the proof is evident; but this provision shall not be so construed as to prevent bail after indictment found upon examination of the evidence, in such manner as may be prescribed by law.

A judge may not adopt a bail schedule or standing order that conflicts with the bail statute or lets a magistrate skip the required bail factors. (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.028(d))

A judge may not adopt a bail schedule or enter a standing order related to bail that: (1) is inconsistent with this article; or (2) authorizes a magistrate to make a bail decision for a defendant without considering each of the factors in Article 17.15 (a).

Note: Text read from the Texas Legislature's statute file server (tcss.legis.texas.gov) behind statutes.capitol.texas.gov.

If a court date is missed in Texas

For a misdemeanor, the surety is exonerated if the defendant is jailed anywhere in the United States within 180 days after the failure to appear. (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 22.13(a)(5))

5. The incarceration of the principal in any jurisdiction in the United States: (A) in the case of a misdemeanor, at the time of or not later than the 180th day after the date of the principal's failure to appear in court

Note: Text read from the Texas Legislature's statute file server (tcss.legis.texas.gov) behind statutes.capitol.texas.gov.

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