Bail Bondsman Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Bail Bondsman.

Bail Bondsman (noun)

A bail bondsman is a person who works on behalf of insurance companies by issuing bonds that get defendants out of jail until their court date. These bonds are essentially insurance policies that ensure a defendant will show up for their court proceedings; if the defendant doesn't show up, the bondsman is then responsible to pay the court the full amount of the bond. After the court proceedings, the bondsman collects fees for their services from the defendants. In certain cases, they might also require collateral, like property or other assets, from the defendant.