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Rights & Obligations

4 Obligations After Signing a Bail Bond Contract

Published April 21, 2020 Updated August 18, 2026By Armstrong Bail Bonds

Signing as an indemnitor is a financial and practical commitment that lasts until the case ends. The four obligations are consistent across every California bail contract: pay the agreed premium, make sure the defendant appears at every hearing, keep the agency updated on address and contact changes, and cover the full bail amount plus recovery costs if the bond is forfeited.

1. Pay the premium as agreed

The premium is 10% of the bail under Insurance Code §1800. If you financed it, the schedule in your contract is enforceable. Missing payments does not void the bond, but it can trigger a surrender and a collection claim — see what happens if you don't pay back a bond.

2. Guarantee every court appearance

A missed hearing means forfeiture under Penal Code §1305 and a bench warrant. You are the person the agency calls first. Put every date in a calendar, confirm the courthouse and department, and drive the defendant there if you have to. The courthouse directory lists departments and addresses for LA and San Diego County.

3. Keep the agency informed

  • Any change of address, phone number, or employer — for the defendant and for you.
  • New arrests, new cases, or probation issues.
  • Travel plans, especially out of state — see can you leave California while on bail.
  • Any sign the defendant is planning to run. Early notice protects you.

4. Stand behind the full bail amount

If the bond forfeits and the defendant is not returned inside the appearance period, Penal Code §1306 permits summary judgment for the entire penal amount. Your indemnity agreement makes you responsible for that figure and for documented recovery costs — not the 10% you paid.

Common Questions

Can I be removed as cosigner mid-case?
Only if the bond is exonerated or the defendant is surrendered and a new bond is written.
Do I owe anything if the defendant is convicted?
No. Conviction and sentencing exonerate the bond; only unpaid premium remains.
What if the defendant moves without telling me?
Tell the agency right away. Reporting a lost contact early is treated very differently from discovering it after a missed court date.

Sources checked

Where This Applies Locally

Cosigner Bail Bonds

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Missed Court Bail Bonds

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Courthouse Directory

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Who is writing this bond

A family that has posted bail in California since 1926

Cecil C. Armstrong opened our Glendale office in 1926. Four generations later, Bill Armstrong (CEO) and Nikki Armstrong (Co-CEO & Licensed Bail Agent) — the fourth generation of the family — still run the company, and our agents still answer the phone themselves. When you call about an arrest in Los Angeles or San Diego County, you reach a licensed Armstrong agent, not a national call center that hands your file to a stranger in another state.

CA Bail License
#1214401
Glendale · LA County
(818) 241-2171
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