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Cash Bail

  • Cash Bail is money that you pay as a deposit for the release of a person who has been arrested (also known as a defendant).
  • The Department of Finance holds the money to help guarantee that the defendant will return to court for their trial.
  • The Cash Bail is held in a bank account until the court closes the case and issues a court order to refund the Cash Bail to the person who paid it.
  • If the defendant does not return for their trial, the Cash Bail is not returned (forfeited Cash Bail).
  • If a court order is not received within 3 years of the deposit date the money is abandoned and sent to the NYS Office of the Comptroller.

Please be advised that walk-in services for the Cash Bail and Court & Trust window at the Manhattan Business Center located at 66 John Street on the 2nd floor is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You can also schedule an appointment for the following services.

Cash Bail Services

  • Abandonment letter received
  • Form/document drop-off
  • Refund check pick up

Court & Trust Services

  • Forms/Document Drop-off
  • Withdrawal Check Pickup

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Court Assets unit at (212) 908-7619 or online at:

Cash Bail: www.nyc.gov/contactcashbail
Court & Trust: www.nyc.gov/contactcourtassets

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Cash Bail Refunds

Surety Change of Address

It is very important that you notify Finance when you change your address. This will help avoid a delay in getting the refund to you.
 
Complete the Cash Bail Refund Change of Address Notice and notarize it. Return the completed notarized form and a copy of a government issued ID to the address provided on the form.

You may also visit the Finance Cash Bail Unit to complete an Address Change Notice. The In-Person Inquiries section contains information on office location and list of acceptable identification documents.

 

Cash Bail Receipt Services

If you need a certified copy of your Cash Bail receipt, then the person who paid the Cash Bail must contact the facility or court where the Cash Bail was posted.

Abandoned Court Funds

Every April, any court funds not claimed after three years, are considered abandoned and are sent to the State of New York. Each October DOF posts a preliminary list of abandoned funds on this website, and then posts the final list on January 31.

If you would like to claim abandoned court funds after they have been sent to the State of New York, you must contact the New York State Comptroller's Office.

Transfer Bail

The Surety is the person who originally paid the Cash Bail. If you are the Surety, you can transfer the Cash Bail refund to another person by completing a Cash Bail Assignment Application. You must notarize the form and mail it to the address on the form with the original Cash Bail receipt. You must include a copy of two forms of ID; one has to be a photo ID. Once the Cash Bail has been transferred, we cannot revoke the transfer unless the person who received the transfer (the assignee) transfers the Cash Bail back to the Surety.  

Forfeited Cash Bail

Finance can receive a forfeit order from a court instructing us to keep Cash Bail. If you receive a letter notifying you that your Cash Bail has been forfeited by the court, then you must contact the court that ordered the forfeiture or the District Attorney’s Office within 45 days of the date of the letter to find out the reason for the forfeiture. Only a judge can issue or reverse a forfeit order.