Collateral — Your Questions Answered

What is Collateral?

Collateral is money, property (such as a mortgage assignment), or another valuable asset used to financially back the full bond amount — in case a defendant does not appear in court and the bail bond agency must cover the entire bond. For example: on a $10,000 bond, the 10% premium ($1,000) is the non-refundable fee charged to the indemnitor — the person securing the defendant's release. The remaining $9,000 must be backed by collateral: a credit card charge, an assigned mortgage, or another asset held by the bail bond agency.

When the defendant appears for all court dates and meets the court's requirements, the collateral is returned in full. If the defendant misses a court date and approximately 120 days pass without a new date being set, the collateral may be converted to cash to pay the bond.

That conversion process takes time and must follow the law. If a mortgage or vehicle title is used, no record of the arrangement appears on any public databases. And if a defendant does miss a court date, the indemnitor is given time to locate the cash before any conversion begins. We work with you through every step — call us anytime at 601-948-4105 if you have questions.

Do I Get My Collateral Back?

Yes. Under Mississippi state law, once the defendant has appeared for all court dates and satisfied the court's requirements, both the indemnitor and defendant are released from the bond — and all collateral beyond the premium is returned. The 10% premium is a non-refundable fee for securing the defendant's release, not a deposit.

Before you sign as an indemnitor, talk with us. We'll walk you through exactly what collateral will be required, how it's held, and when you get it back — no surprises. Call 601-948-4105 or our 24-hour line at 800-638-4088.

What If the Defendant Misses a Court Date?

The first step is finding out why — sometimes defendants simply weren't notified by the court. In that case, we work with them and their attorney to get a new date scheduled. If you're worried about a missed court date, call us immediately: 601-948-4105. We've navigated these situations for Mississippi families since 1967 — we know what to do.

Types of Collateral We Accept

Most of our clients qualify using their signature with approved credit — that's the simplest path. Not everyone owns property or has the credit, and that's alright. We work with each person individually to find the right arrangement. Collateral can also be provided through:

• Cash
• Bank Accounts
• Life insurance policies
• Real Estate
• Stocks & Bonds

Not sure what you have available or whether it qualifies? Call us — 601-948-4105, answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We'll talk through your situation and tell you exactly what we can do.