If you find yourself in need of a bail bondsman in Angleton, TX, you’re likely to also find yourself with a whole lot of questions about bail bondsmen, particularly if this is the first time you’ve needed one. For more than 20 years, Brazoria County Bail Bonds has been the primary local source of bail bond services, and we’ll happily answer any questions you might have about the process.
It’s likely that experience isn’t the only thing you’re wondering about. Perhaps you’re also wondering what qualifications a bail bondsman needs to have in order to practice. Let’s walk through the process as it happens in the state of Texas.
Basic requirements and education
A person interested in becoming a bail bondsman in Texas needs to meet some very basic requirements from the outset. U.S. citizenship and Texas residency are a must, as is a high school diploma or GED. Anyone convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor crime of moral turpitude is prohibited from being a bail bondsman. It’s also necessary to be able to provide sufficient insurance, which requires certain financial resources.
Assuming the above requirements are met, it’s necessary for applicants to first complete a yearlong, supervised apprenticeship of 30 hours per week at a bail bond business. Licensure also requires the completion of eight hours of continuing education in the last two years at an accredited Texas college or university. Degrees in criminal justice or business administration can be extremely helpful.
The application process
Larger counties, including Brazoria County, require a considerably more thorough and involved application process than smaller counties, which actually don’t even require bail bondsmen to hold licenses. In Brazoria County, bail bondsmen are required to file a formal application and submit a variety of supporting documentation, including three letters of recommendation, a recent passport-sized photograph, fingerprints, a sworn financial statement and a sworn declaration of compliance with Texas law. Payment of a $500 filing fee is also required.
Additionally, there are complex financial requirements for new bail bondsmen. Either a $50,000 deposit or security in the form of the bondsman’s own real property is required by the board. The amount of bail bonds the bondsman is allowed to issue is dependent upon the type of security they offer up, and, if they’re using real property, the ratio at which they can issue bail bonds will increase over time. Finally, a surety must provide backing to the bondsman’s business.
Bail bondsmen must renew their licenses and pay the $500 fee, as well as complete the continuing education requirement, every two years. After eight years of licensure, it may be possible to renew every three years.
This is just a basic overview of the process of becoming a bail bondsman in Angleton, TX. If you have other questions, Brazoria County Bail Bonds will gladly provide more information about who we are and what you can expect from the bail bond process. You can rest easy knowing that we are fully licensed and qualified, as well as experienced.