The process
What actually happens after an arrest
Most people meet the bail system for the first time in the middle of the night. Here is the sequence, in the order it happens, and where we come in.
01
Booking
The person is processed into the county jail. Bond is usually not set yet at this point, so there may be nothing to post for a few hours.
02
Bond set
A judge or magistrate sets the bond, sometimes at an arraignment. Once you have the amount and the case number, call us and we can begin.
03
Paperwork filed
We complete the bond, the co-signer agreement and the jail's requirements, then file with the court and jail.
04
Release
The jail releases the person, most often the same day. We follow it through and tell you when they are out.
Bond types
Not every bond is a bail bond.
What the court sets determines what makes sense for your family. We walk through the options before you commit to anything.
Surety bond
A licensed bail agent posts the bond on your behalf. The family pays a fee based on the bond amount rather than the full amount to the court.
10% cash bond
Some Ohio courts allow a percentage of the bond to be posted directly with the clerk, with the balance owed if the person misses court. We will tell you when this option is cheaper for you.
Own recognizance
The court releases the person on a promise to appear, with no money posted. If that is what the judge orders, you do not need us — and we will tell you so.
Before you call
Five things that speed everything up
You do not need all of this. But the more we know on the first call, the faster the bond gets filed.
- The person's full name, and date of birth if you have it
- Which county or jail they are being held in
- The charges or case number, if known
- The bond amount, if the judge has already set one
- Your own contact details, and a co-signer if one is needed
What a co-signer takes on
A co-signer is financially responsible for the bond: if the person misses court, the co-signer can owe the full bond amount. That is a serious commitment, and we explain it plainly before anything is signed. Courts can also impose conditions such as check-ins or no-contact orders, and those conditions apply to the person released, not to you.
Still unsure whether to sign? Ask us first — no charge to talk it through.
Talk it through
Not sure what to do next? Start with a phone call.
Tell us what you know — a name, a county, a bond amount. We will tell you what it means, what it costs, and what happens next. No obligation.
Answered 24 hours a day, every day