To post bond is to satisfy the court’s bail requirement so someone can go home before trial. The court sets a dollar figure as a guarantee that the defendant will appear. When you post that guarantee, the jail releases the person. Until someone posts it, the defendant stays in custody. So posting is the action that turns a bail amount into actual freedom. That single act is what families are really asking about when they say bail.
Three ways to do it
You have options here. First, pay the full bail in cash to the court, which returns it at the end if the defendant appears. Second, in some cases, you can pledge property worth the bail. Third, and most common, hire a bail company that posts a surety bond for a premium, commonly 10% in California. Each route gives the court the same assurance. Most people choose the third, since the upfront cost is far smaller. Property bonds are rarer and take longer to process.
Who sets the amount you post
The figure is not random. If the defendant has not yet seen a judge, California uses the county bail schedule or the amount on the arrest warrant. Once the defendant appears before a judge, the judge fixes the amount for that case. That rule comes from the state Penal Code, which directs how bail is set before and after a first appearance. Because of that rule, the figure can change between booking and arraignment.
Where and when you post
Posting usually happens at the jail or the courthouse. A booking officer can accept bail on the schedule soon after the arrest, even before the first hearing. An agent can handle the paperwork around the clock, then deliver the bond to the right facility. Release from custody follows once staff process it, often the same day someone steps in to help. Knowing the right jail and case number speeds everything up.
What posting commits you to
Posting a bond is a promise, not a purchase. The defendant agrees to attend every hearing, and whoever posts cash or property risks losing it if the person fails to appear. With a bond from a company, the agent and cosigner take on that risk in exchange for the fee. Either way, attendance is the condition that keeps the bond intact and the money safe. Mark every court date on a calendar the day you post.
The bottom line
To post bond means handing the court a guarantee so a loved one can come home and prepare for court. Choose cash, property, or a company’s bond based on your budget and the size of the bail. Whichever you pick, posting is what opens the jail door, and showing up to every hearing is what keeps it open. Handled right, posting bond is the first calm step in a stressful day.