What happens to your bail bond money after charges are dropped depends on how you paid for the bail.

Here’s how it works…

If You Paid the Full Bail Amount in Cash (Cash Bail)

• If you paid the full bail amount (e.g., $10,000 for a $10,000 bail) directly to the court, you will get your money back after the case is dismissed.
• The court may deduct court fees, fines, or administrative costs before returning the money.
• If there are no deductions, the refund is typically processed within a few weeks or months.

If You Used a Bail Bondsman (Surety Bond)

• If you paid a bail bondsman (typically 10% of the total bail, e.g., $1,000 for a $10,000 bail), you do NOT get that money back even if the charges are dropped.
• The bail bondsman’s fee is non-refundable because it is a service fee for securing your release.
• If you used collateral (e.g., house, car, jewelry), the bondsman will release the lien on the property since you met all court obligations.

If You Paid a Court-Approved Percentage (Percentage Bail)

• Some courts allow a defendant to pay 10-15% of the bail directly to the court (instead of using a bondsman).
• If the charges are dropped, you get the money back, but the court may keep some for fees or fines.

Key Takeaways

If your charges were dropped, you are no longer legally required to appear in court, and the bail is no longer needed. Only full cash bail or a court-approved percentage is refundable—bail bondsman fees are always non-refundable.