Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Bail Bond?
It’s a financial guarantee that once a person is released from jail, they will follow through on their obligation to appear in court. The bail bondsman puts up the money and serves as the party making the guarantee that the defendant will appear in court. Failure to appear in court results in the bail bond being forfeited and a warrant issued for the arrest of the defendant.

What is an indemnitor and must I have one?
An indemnitor is the person who co-signs for the bond, and is required for the bond process. If you are the inmate and you do not have an indemnitor, we cannot help you.

How soon can I, or my loved one, get out of jail?
We can promise that we’ll work as quickly as possible – however, we are not able to secure the release of any inmate until after the bail amount has been set by the Hays County Magistrate (judge). Typically, this occurs each morning. So anyone arrested in the evening after hours will spend a night in jail – no matter what.

I’m angry my son got arrested by a DWI, and I want to teach him a lesson. Can’t I just leave him in jail and not bail him out?
Sure you can – that’s your choice. However, be aware that what that actually means is that your son will be in jail until his case comes up for trial – and that can take months.

I’m not guilty, can you help me?
We are able to help anyone who gets arrested in Hays County – guilt or innocence is not our concern. Guilt or innocence is determined by a court of law, not by us. We simply help you get out of jail.

What obligation do I have to you if you bail me out of jail?
You are obligated to appear in court on your appointed court date(s). If you hire an attorney, you are still obligated to appear in court on your assigned court date(s). If you or your attorney fails to appear for you, a warrant for your arrest will be issued. A no-show of your attorney is not an excuse and will not relieve you of the obligation to appear. We require you to call in weekly, and you are also required to notify us of whether or not your whereabouts, employment and/or court date(s) have changed.

How is bail determined?
Bail is determined solely by the Hays County Magistrate (judge), and depends upon the severity of the crime and the criminal background of the defendant.

What do your services cost?
We charge a percentage of the bail in exchange for putting up the bail with Hays County. We are an approved bondsman for Hays County.

How is your fee determined?
San Marcos Bail Bonds determines the fee by assessing the risk. What is the defendant’s criminal background? Is the defendant employed? What are they charged with? Is it a major or minor crime?

If I call you and I have the money for your fee, are you required to bail out my friend?
No. We are an independently owned and operated bail bonds company. If we feel that the bond is too much of a risk, we can decline to post it for you.

How long have you been in business?
We have been in San Marcos for over five years and in various counties in Texas for longer than that. We are a family owned and operated business with locations in Gonzales, Caldwell, Guadalupe and Comal Counties.

I’m out of state, can you help me bail out my daughter who’s in the Hays County Jail?
Please give us a call. We’ll see if we are able to assist you.

What are the steps in the process?
First step is to give us a call at 512-392-8999. We will verify the criminal charges and find out the amount of bail set by the Hays County Magistrate (judge). Your indemnitor (co-signer) will be notified of the bond fee. The indemnitor will come to our office in downtown San Marcos and fill out the required forms. The indemnitor can then take the bail bond form to the Hays County Jail to await the release of the inmate. Once the inmate is released, the indemnitor must accompany the inmate back to our office to fill out the necessary paperwork, and the conditions of the bond are explained.

Will I get my money back?
No. The fee paid to a bail bondsman to secure a bail bond is nonrefundable.

Will I owe any more money?
Typically, no. The money on a bail bond is paid up front. However, additional costs can and will be incurred if the defendant fails to appear in court. If that occurs, the defendant and co-signer on the bond become liable for any court costs, fees from the bond forfeiture, collection fees, and any other fees that may incur to locate the defendant.

Help! I got notified by mail that there is a warrant for my arrest, can you help?
Yes. Give us a call, and we’ll help you get a bail bond so that you can avoid spending time in jail.