Co-signing a bail bond for a friend or family member is a significant responsibility. It means that you agree to be responsible for that person until such time as their case is complete, provided that they remain out on bail. However, that doesn't mean that you have to knowingly throw away your bail bond collateral if your friend or loved one violates, or is planning to violate, the terms of their bond agreement. Here's what you need to know about bail bond revocation requests from co-signers.

Why Do You Want The Bail Bond Revoked?

The first thing you need to know is that you have to have a valid reason for contacting the bondsman to revoke a bail bond that you've cosigned on. You cannot request a bond revocation simply because you don't want the responsibility anymore.

However, if you have evidence that the party on bail has broken the law again since release, intends to violate their bail conditions, or already has violated those bail conditions, those are all key reasons to request a revocation of the bail bond.

How Does A Cosigner Get A Bail Bond Revoked?

In order to request a revocation of the bail bond, you need to have proof of wrongdoing or an overwhelming belief of future wrongdoing. Contact the bond agent that secured the individual's release and express your concerns. Request a meeting to provide the necessary evidence, if you have any.

Once the meeting is concluded, the bond agent will make the determination of whether or not they wish to revoke the bail based on the given situation. He or she may go to the courts to ask for consideration of a bail revocation from the court, or may simply locate and speak to the individual on bond to assess the situation.

What Happens To Your Money?

If the bondsman revokes the bail bond and your friend or family member returns to jail, you will typically be refunded any money you've paid that wasn't declared non-refundable at the time. For example, any bond payments beyond the initial deposit should be returned, and the initial deposit may be as well unless your bond agent considers deposits to be non-refundable.

Anything you used as collateral will also be returned. If you handed over the deed to your home or the title to your car, the bondsman will give it back with no lien attached as soon as the individual in question is returned to jail.