BAIL BONDING PROCEDURES

DeKalb County Bail Bonding Office
DeKalb County Jail
4425 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032

Telephone: 404.298.8195
Office Hours – 7:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.
Daily, Weekends & Holidays

A bail bond is a written promise to appear in court at the scheduled time and date, as ordered by the court, to answer the criminal charges which resulted in the arrest.

The actual bail bond document is signed by the Defendant (the arrested person)and the Surety (the person who posted the cash bond and/or the person whose name is on the cash bond receipt)to ensure that a criminal defendant will appear in court. The bail amount is set by the court.

If a bail bond is allowed, an arrested person can “post bond” and “bail out” of jail (avoid being jailed during the period before trial). A bail bond is forfeited if the defendant does not appear at all appointed court hearings.

A bond can be posted by the arrested person, family member, friend, or through a professional bonding company’s bail bond agent.

Non-refundable Fees

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is required by state law to charge a $20.00 non-refundable fee on all bonds. Professional bonding companies are authorized by law to charge 12% of bonds set in the amount of $10,000 or less, and 15% of bonds set over the amount of $10,000. This is compensation as surety on criminal bonds. The fee is only refundable in the event that a professional bonding company surrenders the defendant “off-bond” of its own choice prior to the court date.

These are the options for posting bonds:

  • Cash Bond
  • Professional Bonding Company
  • Property Bond

Cash Bonds
A cash bond is the total face value of the bond, plus required penalties, in cash. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office will accept only the following as cash bond: cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, US Postal Service or Western Union Money Orders, and United States currency. The Sheriff’s Office does NOT accept personal checks for a cash bond.

Professional Bonding Company
Professional bonding companies provide “bail bond agents” who can post the full amount of the bond in exchange for a non-refundable fee. The names of Professional Bonding Companies authorized to do business in DeKalb County are listed on this website, posted in the DeKalb County Jail lobby and in the bail bonding office at the Jail. The Sheriff’s Office makes no recommendations concerning the use of professional bonding companies.

Property Bond
Property Bonds for persons held in the DeKalb County Jail are executed and approved at the Jail, subject to the following conditions:

  1. All parties listed as Owner(s) on the Property Deed must be present to sign the Bond and Property Affidavit, unless one of the persons can produce a legally executed Power of Attorney authorizing the person to sign a property bond on behalf of the owner. If one of the listed owners is deceased, the owner present must produce the original or certified copy of the Probate Court document identifying the owner(s).  The document must also show that the property has cleared probate with the disputed claims of ownership.
  2. Owner(s) must present a state-issued identification (ID) card or driver’s license to verify their identity.
  3. Owner(s) must provide a certified copy of the Warranty or other legally filed and recorded Deed (except security deeds).
  4. Owner(s) must provide the current year Property Tax Statement.
  5. Owner(s) must provide a copy of the recent Mortgage statement or certified copy of Cancellation of Security Deed. If the property is paid for, owner(s) must provide a copy of the money transfer statement along with a copy of the cancelled check pertaining to the sale of the property.
  6. Other Applicable Fees Include: a) A Non-refundable Property Bond Fee of $20 for each property bond form prepared by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.  This excludes bond forms prepared in other jurisdictions and bond forms for signature bonds;  b) A Non-refundable Property Affidavit Fee of $7.50.  Fees are collected in cash.

Property Bonds for persons held in another county jail are executed and approved at that county jail, subject to the above conditions and the following additional conditions:

  • A property affidavit completed by an officer at the DeKalb County Jail; and
  • The bond is sealed in an envelope and hand delivered to the receiving county unopened.

RETURN OF BONDS

Cash Bond

Once a case is settled in court, a Cash Bond can be returned to the person who posted it. This procedure is handled by:

The Civil Process Unit (CPU) of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
DeKalb County Courthouse
Room B110 – 556 N. McDonough
Decatur, GA 30030
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Weekdays Only, No Weekends or Holidays

A Cash Bond refund can only be made to the Surety (the person who posted the bond and/or the person whose name is on the cash bond receipt). The Surety must appear in person and bring a valid, state-issued ID, along with the white copy of the cash bond receipt. (The CPU can provide a copy of the receipt.) If the Surety’s name has changed due to marital status or official name change, supporting documentation must be provided.

Authorization for cash bond refunds requires a Bond Release Form, based on the charge. For Felony charges, the Surety must obtain the form at the DeKalb District Attorney’s Office (7th Floor-Administrative Tower of the DeKalb County Courthouse). For Misdemeanor charges, the Surety must obtain the form at the DeKalb County Solicitor’s office (5th Floor of the Administrative Tower of the DeKalb County Courthouse).

The Surety should return to the CPU Office, where a check will be issued by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of the bond, payable to the Surety.

Professional Bonding Company

If the bond was posted by a Professional Bonding Company, nothing is returned because the bond was made on a fee basis. Speak to the bonding company for questions regarding their refund policies.

Property Bond

If the bond was posted with Property and the amount was less than $10,000, a lien will not be placed on the property. If the bond was posted with Property and the amount was $10,000 or more, a lien will be placed on the property.

Once the case has been settled, a Notice of Bond must be provided to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, along with a valid ID, for the release of the property. The Surety must obtain a copy of the Notice of Bond from the DeKalb Superior Court Real Estate Office (Ground Floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse) and take the Notice of Bond, along with the Release of Property Bond and a valid ID to the CPU, where the transaction will be completed.

AUTHORIZED PROFESSIONAL BONDING COMPANIES

Note: The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office makes no recommendations
concerning the use of professional bonding companies

24 Fast Bail Bonds of DeKalb, LLC
191 Northern Avenue
Avondale Estates, GA 30032
404-299-6000

A-Action Bail Bonds, LLC
4288 Memorial Drive Suite C
Decatur, GA 30032
404-294-5568

A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds
4286 Memorial Drive Suite C
Decatur, GA 30032
404-298-9722

Atlanta DeKalb Bail Bonding Agency, Inc.
3978 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Clarkston, GA 30021
404-292-0640

BBH Bonding Co.
4630 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
404-294-0805

Delta Jet Bonding Company, Inc.
4712 Memorial Drive Suite H
Decatur, GA 30032
404-296-2304

Free At Last Bail Bonds, Inc.
4717 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30034
404-294-1366

Hosea’s Bonding Company
3500 Kensington Road
Decatur, GA 30032
404-222-9999