How to Get a Bail Refund

Getting Your Refund Mailed To You
Generally, no action is required. When a case is over, the court sends a refund order to Finance within five to six weeks. Finance sends a check to the surety (or the assignee), at the address on the bail receipt, generally within two weeks of receiving the refund order from the court.

Getting Your Refund in Person
After contacting the Bail Unit to make sure the check is available, the surety can pick up the refund check in person. You must bring the original bail receipt and two forms of acceptable identification. See In-Person Inquiries for a list of acceptable identification and office location.

Fees
If the defendant was convicted, Finance deducts three percent of the amount of the bail to cover administrative costs before issuing a refund. If the defendant was not convicted, Finance refunds the entire amount of the bail and does not charge any fee for holding or refunding the bail. Courts sometimes impose fees and do not explain these to Finance. In such instances, you will have to contact the appropriate court to discuss the fee.

Stopping Payment on a Bail Refund You Didn't Receive
If you are the surety (the person who paid the bail) or the assignee (the person to whom the surety transferred the bail), and you did not receive a refund check within 10 weeks after the case ended, contact the Bail Unit. If Finance mailed you a bail refund check, we may need to stop payment on it. Complete a Stop Payment Affidavit. Mail or deliver the affidavit, notarized, to the address on the form.

Stop Payment Affidavit
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Claiming a Bail Refund When the Surety is Deceased
A surety's next-of-kin (or the person paying for the funeral) can submit a claim for the bail refund by completing a Surety Survivor's Affidavit. Mail or deliver the affidavit, notarized, with a copy of the death certificate and paid funeral bill to the address on the form.

Surety Survivor's Affidavit
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Signature Verification
The Bail Unit may need to verify a name or signature on the bail receipt or assignment. The surety or assignee may be asked to complete a Signature Verification Form, have it notarized, and submit it to the address on the form.

Signature Verification Form
 Download Form (36k)

Bail Refunds
Inquire about a Bail Refund
Assign (Transfer) Bail to Another Person
Notify Finance of a Cash Bail Refund Change of Address
Lost Bail Receipt
Forfeited Bail
Abandoned Bail