Your Responsibilities as the Co-Signer or Obligator

When you bail someone out, you become the co-signer, obligor or indemnitor. You are agreeing to be financially responsible for the full amount of bail if the defendant forfeits the bond. In every day terms, if the person you are bailing out does not show up for court appearances as required, for any reason, you may be required to pay the full amount of the bond.

Sometimes, this may be just a simple mistake and can be cleared up with the help of your bail bond agent or your attorney. As the co-signer, is very important for you that the defendant show up at all court proceedings as required. You should notify your bail bond agent immediately if the defendant is not able to appear.

This is the single largest concern a bail bond agent has – will this defendant go to court as required or not. A bail agent does not have to take your case if they are not comfortable that the defendant will appear in court as required.

As the co-signer, it is your obligation, as well as the defendant’s, to keep the bail bond agent advised of any changes in address or employment information for the defendant until the case is settled.