what is a surety bond?

A surety bond is one issued by an entity that has put up collateral, generally with the sheriff, to guarantee that bond will be paid if it is forfeited. There are three types of bail bonds that we generally see: personal (free bonds guaranteed by the arrested person and authorized by a judge), surety bonds and cash bonds. The surety on a surety bond will generally charge a percentage for writing it, often 10-15%.