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A bail bond is a document that is presented to the court to secure the release of a defendant in custody and to ensure the defendant's appearance at all required court hearings.

Typically, a bail amount is set by the local court jurisdiction following a defendant's arrest. A family member, a close friend, or sometimes the defendant will contact a bail agent to arrange for the posting of the bail bond. 

The family member or friend who guarantees the bond (also known as the Indemnitor or co-signer) will complete the paperwork and pay the premium, a percentage of the bond amount. By signing the paperwork, the Indemnitor guarantees that they will pay the total amount of the bond if the defendant fails to appear in court. Typically, collateral is taken from the Indemnitor to secure the guarantee.

An Indemnitor/guarantor is an individual, usually a friend or family member of the defendant, who agrees to indemnify the bail agent against a loss.

Sometimes the bail agent will require collateral to secure the guarantee of the bond and ensure the defendant's appearance in court. Collateral is anything of value pledged to secure the bond, such as cosigner cash, property, jewelry, etc. Upon complete resolution of the defendant's case and payment of all premiums in full, the collateral is returned to the Indemnitor.

In most cases, collateral is returned to the defendant upon discharge or exoneration of the bail bond.

Many states and counties, including California, also have a bail schedule, a set of guidelines comprised of bail amounts and ranges for specific crimes. In addition to the factors listed above, judges very often utilize these schedules to assist them in determining the appropriate bail amount.

A judge or magistrate usually sets the amount of bail for each defendant. They will consider many things in this process, including the nature and seriousness of the charges, the weight of the evidence, the defendant's character and history, and other factors to determine the overall potential flight risk of the defendant. 

Acceptable forms of payment are typically cash or credit card. Depending upon the agent and location, payment plan options may be available.

The fee for a bail bond is typically restricted by law and is a certain percentage of the bond amount. It generally ranges from 7% - 10% of the bond.

Once a bail agent has been contacted, it usually takes less than an hour for the paperwork to be completed. However, release times vary from jail to jail and state to state. It could take as little as thirty minutes or as long as forty-eight hours to be released from jail.

If a defendant fails to appear in court, the court issues a bench warrant for that person's arrest, and they are considered a fugitive.