Bail Bond Release Center of the Palm Beaches

The short answer: 10 percent of the bond amount, with a minimum of $100 per charge. A $5,000 bond costs $500. A $25,000 bond costs $2,500.

That rate is set by Florida law. It is not a price any agency chooses, and it is not something you can shop around for.

Be suspicious of anyone charging less

If an agency offers you 7 or 8 percent, they are breaking the law to get your business. Think about what that tells you regarding how they will handle the rest of your file — the paperwork, the collateral receipts, the court dates.

Discounting the statutory premium is a licensing violation in Florida.

The premium is not refundable

This is the part people are most often surprised by, so here it is plainly: the premium is fully earned the moment the defendant is released.

If the charges are dropped the next morning, the case is dismissed, or the defendant is found not guilty, the premium is not returned. It was the fee for posting the bond, and the bond was posted.

Collateral is different from the premium

On larger bonds we may ask for collateral in addition to the premium. Collateral is security, not payment, and it comes back when the bond is discharged.

Every item is receipted on a consecutively pre-numbered receipt, as Florida requires. Keep that receipt — it is how you get your property back.

Multiple charges

Each charge can carry its own bond, and the $100 minimum applies per charge. Several small bonds can add up to more premium than one larger bond of the same total.

If you cannot pay it all at once

Talk to us. Payment arrangements are sometimes possible depending on the bond size and the co-signer's situation. What we will not do is quote you a fake number to get you in the door and change it later.