What The Bail Pros Does and How to Reach Them
The Bail Pros is a bail bond company operating in South Carolina
The Bail Pros is a bail bonding service in South Carolina that posts bail on behalf of people arrested and held in custody. Like other bail bond companies, they charge a fee (typically a percentage of the full bail amount set by the court) and pledge to the court that the defendant will appear for trial. If you contact them, they handle the paperwork, post the bond, and arrange your release from custody.
The company operates within South Carolina's bail system, where a judge sets a bail amount after arrest. You then have three choices: pay the full amount to the court yourself, use a bail bond company like The Bail Pros to pay it for you (for a fee), or request the judge lower or remove the bail requirement. The Bail Pros handles the second option.
Key Takeaways
- The Bail Pros posts bail to the court on your behalf so you can leave custody while awaiting trial, charging a fee for this service.
- You will need to provide personal information, details about your arrest, and information about a co-signer or collateral to secure the bond.
- The fee The Bail Pros charges is set by South Carolina law and is typically a percentage of the total bail amount the judge ordered.
- If you fail to appear in court, The Bail Pros can pursue you to recover their money, and you may face additional criminal charges.
How to contact The Bail Pros
The Bail Pros operates from a physical location in South Carolina. To reach them, search for their current phone number and address online, as contact details change. You can also ask the jail where you are being held—most facilities provide a list of bail bond companies or allow you to make a phone call to arrange a bond.
When you call, have ready the defendant's full name, the jail location, the charges, and the bail amount set by the judge. The Bail Pros representative will explain their fee, what information they need from you, and what happens next. Many bail bond companies offer 24-hour service, including nights and weekends.
What information you will need to provide
The Bail Pros will ask for details about the person in custody, including their full legal name, date of birth, the charges they face, and the bail amount. They will also need to know where the person is being held and when they were arrested.
You will also need to provide your own information as the person arranging the bond—your name, address, phone number, and relationship to the defendant. The Bail Pros may ask about your employment and income to assess whether you can pay their fee. If you cannot pay the full fee upfront, ask whether they offer payment plans.
Many bail bond companies require a co-signer—a person who takes legal responsibility if the defendant fails to appear in court. The co-signer's credit and income may be checked. Some companies also accept collateral (property, jewelry, or other valuables) as security instead of or in addition to a co-signer.
The fee The Bail Pros charges
South Carolina law sets the maximum fee a bail bond company can charge. The rate is typically 10 to 15 percent of the total bail amount, though the exact percentage depends on the type of bond and local rules. If the judge set bail at $5,000, for example, The Bail Pros's fee would be roughly $500 to $750—money you pay to them, not to the court.
This fee is non-refundable, even if the charges are later dropped or the defendant is found not guilty. Ask The Bail Pros for their exact fee structure before you agree to use their service. Some companies offer discounts for military service, government employment, or other factors, so ask whether any apply to you.
What happens after The Bail Pros posts your bond
Once The Bail Pros posts the bond with the court, the jail will process your release, which typically takes a few hours. You will be given a release date and time, and instructions about where to go and what to bring. The defendant must follow all conditions the judge set, which may include staying in South Carolina, avoiding contact with certain people, or checking in with a probation officer.
The Bail Pros will give you a written agreement that explains these conditions and what happens if they are violated. Keep this document and read it carefully. If the defendant misses a court date or breaks a condition of release, The Bail Pros can hire a bounty hunter to locate and return them to custody, and you may be responsible for those costs.
If the defendant does not appear in court
If the person you bonded out fails to appear for a scheduled court date, the judge can declare the bond forfeited, meaning The Bail Pros loses the money they posted. The Bail Pros will then pursue you (and any co-signer) to recover that full amount, plus any costs they incurred in locating the defendant. This debt can be collected through wage garnishment, bank account seizure, or a lawsuit.
The defendant also faces additional criminal charges for failure to appear, which can result in a longer sentence. If the defendant is later found and brought to court, The Bail Pros may request the judge reinstate the bond, but this is not may provide.
Alternatives to using a bail bond company
If you cannot afford The Bail Pros's fee or do not want to use a bail bond company, you have other options. You can request the judge lower the bail amount or release the defendant on their own recognizance (meaning they promise to appear without paying anything). You can also pay the full bail amount directly to the court yourself—if the defendant appears for all court dates, the court returns this money to you after the case ends.
Some people also contact a public defender or private attorney to argue for lower bail at a bail hearing. An attorney can present information about the defendant's ties to the community, employment, and criminal history to persuade the judge that a lower amount is appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my money back if I use The Bail Pros?
No. The fee you pay to The Bail Pros is non-refundable. However, if you pay bail directly to the court (rather than through a bail bond company), the court returns that money after the case ends, as long as the defendant appeared for all court dates.
What if I cannot afford The Bail Pros's fee?
Ask The Bail Pros whether they offer payment plans or sliding-scale fees. You can also request the judge lower the bail amount or release the defendant without bail. A public defender can help you make this argument at a bail hearing.
Can The Bail Pros refuse to post my bond?
Yes. Bail bond companies can decline to post a bond if they believe the risk is too high—for example, if the defendant has a history of failing to appear or if the charges are very serious. If one company refuses, you can contact another or ask the judge to lower the bail amount.
What happens if the defendant moves out of state while on bail?
Most bail conditions require the defendant to stay in South Carolina. Leaving the state without permission violates the bail agreement, and The Bail Pros can pursue the defendant and hold you responsible for their costs. The defendant also faces additional criminal charges.
Do I need a co-signer to use The Bail Pros?
Not always. Some bail bond companies will post a bond with collateral alone, while others require a co-signer. Ask The Bail Pros what they accept. A co-signer is a person who takes legal responsibility if the defendant fails to appear.