Are you considering cosigning on a bail bond?

When you cosign a bail bond, you’re not doing a favor — you’re taking on a legal responsibility.

Your job is to guarantee the defendant shows up to court. If they don’t, you agree to pay the full amount of the bond. So you must be able — financially and practically — to do that.

And let me be blunt: If you lie on a bail bond application, you can face real civil and criminal consequences.

Tell us the truth — all of it — and we’ll find solutions that work. We get creative. We don’t judge. We just need accurate information to help your family.

Cosigner Requirements

1. You MUST know the defendant.

If you barely know this person — or just met them — you can’t cosign. This is not the time for “friend of a friend” decisions. We prefer blood relatives as cosigners.

2. You MUST see or talk to them regularly.

If you have no real interaction with them, you won’t be able to find them if they miss court. You must be in their life.

3. Your relationship MUST be stable.

If things between you and the defendant are volatile, toxic, or unpredictable, we’ll need a different cosigner. Drama and instability are red flags.

4. You must be legally capable of signing a contract. 

This means you must be at least 18 years old and we must believe you to be of sound mind and free to sign a contract.

5. You MUST have stable, verifiable income, living situation, and assets.

This means that you’re working or receiving steady income, have a lease or mortgage, own a vehicle, have a bank account, and can cover your financial obligation.

If you don’t meet these fully — call us anyway. Be honest, and we’ll help you figure out who in the defendant’s circle is the best fit.

5. Collateral may be required

Sometimes signing the paperwork isn’t enough to secure a bond — depending on the charge or the risk level, we may also need collateral to make the bond happen.

Collateral is usually equal to the bond amount.
If the bond is $50,000, the collateral is $50,000. Simple.

We only accept two types of collateral:

• Cash

• Real property through a deed of trust

We do not take car titles, jewelry, guns, or “my uncle’s boat if you let me find the title.” Cash or real property only — that’s it.

All collateral goes into a dedicated trust account and stays there until the entire case is over.
That includes deferred dismissals, continuances, delayed judgments — the whole thing. The outcome doesn’t matter: guilty, not guilty, dismissed — once the court is officially done, we start the process to return your collateral. If it’s cash, we mail a check. If it’s a deed of trust, we release it.

That’s the good news.

Here’s the part you need to take seriously:

If the defendant misses court, everything freezes. You need to work with us immediately so we can get the warrant cleared and keep the bond from blowing up. If that warrant is not handled by the final judgment date, the collateral is forfeited. That means we’ll use it to pay that bond. Not because we want it — because that’s the law.

Bottom line: as long as the defendant goes to court and stays in compliance, your collateral comes back. If they miss court, and we handle it quickly, your collateral comes back.
Help us help you, and we’ll get everyone through this safely.

Before You Sign: Understand the Risks

Cosigners aren’t “just signing paperwork.” You are entering a legally binding contract with very real consequences.

You agree to:

• Pay the full bond amount if the defendant disappears and can’t be located. That means if it’s a $50,000 bond, you are going to the bank to get $50,000 out. It might mean mortgaging or even selling your home or other property, cashing out your retirement, or taking out a loan to cover this amount.

• Keep tabs on the defendant. Know where they’re living and working.

• Make sure they attend every court date. You are not just guaranteeing their first appearance. You are guaranteeing every appearance.

• Notify us if something’s wrong or changes.

• Take this responsibility seriously

The defendant must:

• Follow all court orders and bond conditions

• Stay in touch with us and check in on the app weekly

• Keep payments current

• Keep you updated on their case and schedule

If they don’t — we can revoke the bond and return them to jail.
We don’t revoke many bonds, but when we do, the premium you paid is non-refundable.

We’re not in the business of chaos. We operate on safety, clarity, and solutions.

If You’re Overwhelmed, Tell Us

Cosigning a bond can be stressful. This is a big obligation and we’re not going to minimize it. If you have questions, concerns, or something doesn’t feel right, say so.

We’ll slow down, explain the process, and help you make the right decision for your family — not a pressured one.

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Keep in mind that the rules being referenced here refer to bail bonds in North Carolina – if you happen to be in another state, the rules may be different.