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A court outcome is the starting point for closing your bond
After weeks or months of court dates, it is natural to ask, “Am I finally done?” Start by obtaining the court’s written disposition—the record of what happened in that particular case. Match the case number to your bond paperwork before deciding which requirements have ended.
Texas Occupations Code §1704.208 ties a licensed surety’s bond liability to case disposition: dismissal, acquittal, or conviction. Code of Criminal Procedure Article 17.08 also identifies sentencing, community supervision, and an order of deferred adjudication as endpoints for surety responsibility. The outcome of the case and the remaining balance on a service agreement are separate questions.
If the charge is dismissed or you are found not guilty
Send your agent the signed dismissal or acquittal record and ask for confirmation that the correct bond has been closed in your account. Ask your attorney whether any settings or separate orders still require attention. A verbal update from a relative or a changed jail-search screen is not a substitute for the court record.
Case closure does not itself erase an arrest record. Expunction and nondisclosure have their own eligibility rules and court processes. Ask your attorney whether either applies rather than assuming the record has disappeared.
If there is a conviction or a jail or prison sentence
Get a copy of the judgment and sentencing instructions. Confirm whether you must report somewhere, remain in custody, or return for another hearing. The end of a surety’s bond responsibility does not cancel a sentence or authorize someone to leave custody.
If an appeal or motion for a new trial is being considered, ask your attorney about release immediately. Article 44.04 has separate rules for bail after conviction, and some felony convictions do not qualify. Do not assume the original bond continues through an appeal; the surety’s agreement and the court’s decision matter.
If you receive probation or deferred adjudication
Community supervision is the Texas term commonly used for probation. Deferred adjudication is a form of community supervision in which the judge defers a finding of guilt. Entering either form of supervision is different from finishing all your obligations.
Ask where and when to report to your supervision officer, and keep the written conditions. Court-ordered reporting, classes, testing, payments, or other requirements must be handled as directed. Confirm the end of AAA bond check-ins with your agent, and separately confirm supervision instructions with your attorney or supervision officer. One conversation does not replace the other.
What happens to the money?
Look at the receipt before asking for a refund. “Bond money” can refer to several different things, and they do not all follow the same rules. A dismissal does not automatically make every payment refundable or eliminate a remaining contractual balance.
| Payment or property | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Bond company service fee | Review the signed agreement and applicable refund rules. A fee for arranging a surety bond is different from cash bail deposited with the court. |
| Remaining payment-plan balance | Request an itemized statement. Ask what remains due under the agreement after the court case ends. |
| Collateral held by the company | Request the release requirements, a written accounting, and the expected return arrangements. Confirm whether collateral also secures another bond or unpaid fee. |
| Cash bail paid directly to the county | Ask the proper county or district clerk about the court’s refund order, required documents, authorized deductions, and the recipient shown on the receipt. |
Tarrant County requires receipts to distinguish bond fees from collateral. Its rules limit the purposes for which collateral may be held. Refund rights can also arise under applicable law; do not assume that every fee is refundable or that refunds are never allowed.
Close each case with a short checklist
- Obtain the signed dismissal, judgment, sentencing order, or supervision order.
- Match each document to the case number and the bond it resolves.
- Send the disposition to your assigned agent and request an updated bond status.
- Confirm any remaining balance and obtain receipts or collateral-release paperwork.
- Confirm which check-ins have ended and which court or supervision requirements continue.
- Keep your own copies of the documents and the final account statement.
More than one bond? Close them one at a time
If you have several cases, make a separate line in your notes for each case number, court, outcome, and agent update. One dismissal may resolve only one of them. Ask your attorney to identify any remaining hearings or orders, and ask your agent to reconcile each bond individually.