Understanding Bail Money in Oklahoma Criminal Cases
What happens to your bail money if you make it to all court appearances and finish out that case in Oklahoma? I am Attorney James Wirth, and that’s the question that we have. So, you’re charged with a criminal offense, the bail amount is set by the court, and you pay that cash bail yourself, or a family member does it for you, or you use a bail bondsman that handles a bond in order to get you out.
Receiving a Refund for Bail Money
When the case closes with you appearing at court, if that bail amount was paid by you or a family member, you pay the 100% of the amount, the court has that, that is refundable to you once that case is done. The purpose of paying that is just to guarantee your appearance at court. Once your court case is done, that money needs to be refunded to you.
Considerations for Bail Paid by Bondsman
If you had a bail bondsman cover the bail through a bond, when your case is done, the bail bondsman is off the hook for having to pay the full amount. However, the fee you paid to them, typically about 10% of the bail amount, is their earned fee. You will not receive a refund on this amount and will need to take care of fines and costs on your own.
Get Legal Advice for Your Specific Case
If you are dealing with this circumstance, it is important to seek legal advice specific to your situation. The best way to get this advice is by speaking privately and confidentially with a Tulsa criminal defense attorney. To schedule a strategy session with a Tulsa lawyer at Wirth Law Office, you can visit MakeLawEasy.com or call us at 918-879-1681.
