Bail bond questions in Kings County.
We will always do our very best to provide you honest and accurate information based on our professional, local experience. Here are a few frequently asked questions.
Getting started
How do I bail someone out of Kings County Jail?
Call Kings County Bail Bonds with the person's name. An agent checks the bail the court set and tells you what the bond would cost. If you go ahead, the paperwork can in many cases be done by phone and email, and once the bond is approved we post it at the jail or file it with the court. You don't need to go to the jail yourself, and you don't need the booking details in front of you.
What information do I need to get started?
Start with the person's full name and the jail or county where they are being held. A booking number helps if you have it, but you do not need one to make the first inquiry. If you are not sure where the person is being held, tell the agent where the arrest happened.
The agent checks the bail amount and explains the next steps. If you decide to apply for a bond, the agent will explain what information and paperwork are needed for that bond.
What if I don't know where they're being held?
Start with the county's own inmate locator, which updates hourly, so someone booked in the last hour may not appear yet. If it comes up empty and you still think the arrest was in Kings County, call us and we'll find out, so you don't have to work out which desk to ask. Read our Kings County Jail guide for jail, visiting and bail information.
What if the county inmate search does not show the person?
A recent booking may not appear in the county's online inmate search right away. Check the spelling of the name and confirm that you are searching the county where the person may be held. A missing result does not, by itself, confirm that the person has been released.
Use the official jail information number on our Kings County Jail page, or contact our office for help checking where the person is being held.
What's the difference between bail and a bail bond?
Bail is the amount a court sets. A bail bond is a surety company's written promise to the court that the person will appear, posted by a licensed agent in place of that amount. Types of bail bonds sets out the five basic forms of release, and which one an agent writes.
What if bail hasn't been set yet?
Sometimes bail is set by a schedule shortly after booking, and sometimes it waits for a judge. Call anyway. An agent can tell you which situation you're in and what happens next, and there is nothing owed for that conversation.
Can someone bail themselves out?
In some cases, yes. Call and an agent will tell you what applies.
Can any of this be handled without coming into the office?
Often, yes. Many bonds are handled start to finish over the phone and online, and nobody has to come in. Which ones depends on the bond, the county, and what the surety requires, so tell an agent about yours and they will say what, if anything, has to happen in person.
Cost and terms
What does a bail bond cost?
A premium, which is a percentage of the bail amount the court sets. In California the premium is generally 10% of the bail amount, a rate the surety files with the state. That cost can be lower based upon available rebates. A licensed agent explains it before anything is signed. See the cost example and payment information.
What is your rate?
In California the cost of a bond is generally 10%. If the bail amount is $10,000, the cost would be $1,000. The surety files that rate with the state, and we do have rebates available that in many cases can reduce the cost of the bond. The question underneath that one is usually different: what has to be paid up front. Financing is available, payments are 0% interest, and the terms are flexible. Call and we'll walk you through what applies to you and what your options are. No pressure, information is always free.
Does the premium come back at the end of the case?
Bail premiums, also known as bail fees (the percentage you pay to the agent), are not refundable and are fully earned once the bond has been posted to the jail or filed in court. It does not matter if the defendant is on bail one day or 3 years. Collateral, where any was needed, is a separate thing, and the written agreement sets out what releases it. The premium section of the co-signer page has the full answer.
Is collateral always required?
No. Whether collateral applies to a particular bond is an underwriting decision, and the agent tells you before you commit to anything. When collateral is taken, the written agreement sets out what releases it.
Signing for a bond
What does a co-signer take on?
It is the responsibility of the co-signer to see that the bail premium is paid and the defendant appears in court. Any additional expenses of the bail bond are paid by the co-signer to the bail agent. In case of a forfeiture and summary judgment, it is the duty of the indemnitor or co-signer to pay the full penal amount of the bail. Co-signer responsibilities covers how long that lasts, what happens if a court date is missed, and how it ends.
As a co-signer, am I only responsible for the first court appearance?
No. As a co-signer for the bail bond, you are responsible for all the court dates that may be set by the judge. It is important you remain in close contact with the defendant until he/she is no longer required to appear. Additionally, if a balance is owed to Kings County Bail Bonds as part of a fee agreement, the debt remains yours even if the defendant agrees to pay the balance and fails to do so. Everything a co-signer agrees to is in the written agreement you will receive a copy of. If you have additional questions, we are happy to answer.
How long is a bail bond good for?
A bail bond is good for as long as the case remains active or until a determination is made: the case is dismissed, the defendant is ordered into diversion, the defendant is sentenced or remanded to custody, or the bond is exonerated.
What happens to a co-signer if the defendant misses court?
The bond is forfeited. The co-signer would be required to immediately bring the defendant in to reinstate the bond, or have the bail agent or a peace officer surrender him or her back into custody. In case of a forfeiture and summary judgment, it is the duty of the indemnitor or co-signer to pay the full penal amount of the bail. The missed-court section of the co-signer page has the rest.
How does a co-signer get off a bail bond?
You are no longer liable for the defendant's bond when he or she has completed all of their court appearances, and when all premiums and expenses have been paid. The co-signer page's section on getting off a bond has the rest.
Timing and availability
How long does release take after a bond is posted?
Release times vary depending on the time of day and how busy the corrections staff is. Once a bond is posted, our agent can offer an estimated release time. That estimate can change and is not a guarantee. The jail controls the release process.
How long does it take to process and post bail once I decide to have you handle it?
In most cases, our agents can process the paperwork in about 20 minutes and have the bond posted within an hour. In the case of very large bonds, or bonds posted for you at jails outside of Hanford, that time frame will increase. Our agent can tell you what applies to your situation once we get a chance to review the bail information that has been set.
Can I call at night or on the weekend?
Yes. Call us anytime 24/7, and a licensed bail agent will walk you through the process.
Particular situations
Can bail be posted on a warrant?
In many cases, bail can be posted at the court on a warrant. The court can then recall the warrant and set a court date. Whether that route is available depends on the warrant and the court's requirements.
Contact a licensed agent to check whether a bond can be posted and what the next steps would be. The court decides whether to recall the warrant; posting a bond does not guarantee that result.
Do you write federal bonds?
Yes, though they come up rarely. Federal court has its own paperwork and requirements, so say it's a federal matter when you call and an agent will tell you what that changes.
Do you cover the whole county?
Yes. One office in Hanford covers all of Kings County, including Hanford, Lemoore, Corcoran and Avenal, and we work Kings County Jail and Kings County Superior Court. Call from across town, or from out of the area for a friend or family member.
The contact form
When will Kings County Bail Bonds ask for my application information?
When you apply for a bond, a licensed agent asks for the personal information the application and underwriting need, by phone or email, and explains how to provide it. Don't send a Social Security number, payment card details, or photographs of documents through the form on this site.
What information does the form on this site collect?
It asks for your name, an email address, a phone number, whether you'd like a call, a text or an email back, the jail or county, the name of the person in custody, and a note. You need to give your name and how you'd like a reply, plus the phone number or email address for that reply. Everything else is optional, including the name of the person in custody. What you send goes by email to the agents who answer for Kings County Bail Bonds, so an agent can answer you. The information isn't stored on the website and doesn't go through a third-party form service.
Still not sure? Call us.
You don't need the right question or the right paperwork to pick up the phone. Give us a name and a jail and a licensed bail agent will walk you through the process. If you'd rather read first, how bail bonds work walks through it, and types of bail bonds sets out the five basic forms of release. Kings County Bail Bonds, over 40 years in Hanford, open 24/7.