BY | September 6, 2022

When a loved one has been arrested in the State of California, it’s only natural that you’ll do anything to secure their release. In many cases, posting bail through a bail bonds agency will be the answer. 

Once the panic is over, though, there may be many questions that you want to answer. One of the most common is “how can a cosigner get out of a bond?”. Here’s all you need to know. 

Why would a cosigner want to get out of a bond?

The incentives for accepting a loved one’s pleas to help them gain bail are obvious. Once the initial challenge of getting them out of jail is complete, however, there are several reasons why you may wish to end your obligation. 

Cosigners, also known as indemnitors, may want to end their cosignership for any of the following reasons;

• The defendant is considered a high risk of fleeing while on bail or committing another crime. In this case, removing your cosigner status could be the key to protecting yourself.
• Using your home or vehicle as collateral against the full bond amount has caused emotional stress. 
• You have since fallen out with the defendant, perhaps due to something in relation to the case itself. 

Ultimately, you have to do what is right for you, even if it means upsetting the defendant. After all, you’ve already supported them by posting bail in the first place. However, the big question is: how can a cosigner get out of a bond?

How to protect yourself as a cosigner before the agreement

Research shows that one in three American adults has a criminal record. So, there is a strong possibility that you will be asked to cosign for a loved one at some stage. While it’s great that you are in a position to help them in their hour of need, it’s vital that you keep your best interests in mind too.

When you become a cosigner, you become financially and legally responsible for the defendant. Thankfully, there are several steps that may be taken to reduce your risks and responsibilities. They are;

• Insert clauses, such as stipulating that the defendant must attend drug rehab classes. If they do not meet those requirements, you will be freed from the obligation. Better still, it ensures that your loved one gains the support they need.
• Tell the defendant that you expect the money you’ve paid out to be repaid by them. Make it clear that you will look to cancel your cosigner status if they fail to make the payments as agreed.
• Make sure that you keep an eye on the developments of your loved one’s case. Your responsibilities last throughout the procedure, including preliminary hearings, plea hearings, and sentencing.

When leaning on a bail bonds agency as a cosigner, it is equally important to find a local bonds company that you can trust. Of course, keeping a record of all documents will be vital.

So, how can a cosigner get out of a bond?

If your first question is “can I get out of a cosigner bond agreement in California?”, the short answer is: yes. And it is certainly possible if you used 24houronlinebailbonds.com to secure bail in the first place.

You must first contact the bail bonds company to inform them of your decision to cancel the agreement and relieve yourself of any responsibility relating to the defendant. You can also discuss your reasoning with them, such as doubts regarding whether they’ll satisfy the demands of their bail.

Once you have confirmed your intention, the bail bonds company will inform the local State of California courts, and the bond agreement will become null and void. At this time, the defendant will be arrested again and will need to restart the pretrial procedures. 

They will be able to post bail themselves, though. So, if you advise them of your plans in advance, they can secure the funds to pay their bail bonds team. It is another reason to work with an agent that maintains smooth communication between all parties.

After you have canceled your responsibilities, the defendant can opt to voluntarily hand themselves. If they do not do this, the authorities will send out a warrant for their arrest. Meanwhile, if the bond company needs to call a bounty hunter, cosigners may be responsible for these costs. A voluntary surrender is the best option for all parties.

Alternatively, if you have posted the full cash bail without the use of a bond agent, you will need to contact the county jail directly to inform them of your intentions. 

What happens if you don’t get out of the bail bond?

As the cosigner, you are an innocent citizen that has not broken the law. So, if you continue to back your loved one and they keep up their end of the bargain by meeting their bail conditions, you will have nothing to fear. However, problems will surface if they skip hearings or try to leave the State of California when their bail conditions won’t allow it.

Crucially, you will be responsible for the bail amount, which is likely to be tens of thousands of dollars. This could see you lose money or assets. Moreover, your relationship with the defendant is likely to be damaged while their chance of avoiding jail time will be far smaller.

You will not be linked to the accusations aimed at the defendant, including any new ones that may surface. However, you should be aware of the financial problems that can surface from your cosigner agreement. Otherwise, you could face a nasty surprise.

The final word

Where possible, cosigners should look to support their loved ones throughout the entire process and avoid canceling the bond if they can. Nonetheless, if you feel that it is the only way to protect yourself, getting out of the bail bond is the only solution. 

To find out more about cosigning a bail bond on behalf of a loved one, contact our friendly agents at 800-930-8999 today.