How bail bonds work in Collin County
After arrest, a magistrate sets a bond amount. You then have a few ways to pay it and get the person released.
When someone is booked into the Collin County Detention Facility, a magistrate sets a bond — the amount that secures release in exchange for a promise to appear at every court date. Collin County sets each bond individually at magistration; it appears in the inmate search once set. From there you have four options:
| Bond type | What you pay | Refundable? | Who approves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash bond | The full bond amount, at the jail bond window | Yes — returned by the court after the case if the defendant made every appearance | No approval needed |
| Surety bond (bondsman) | A non-refundable fee to a licensed bondsman (commonly ~10% of the bond), sometimes plus collateral | No — the fee is the bondsman's to keep | Any approved bail bond company |
| Personal (PR) bond | No money up front (small admin fee may apply) | n/a | A judge, based on the charge and history |
| Pretrial release | 3% of the bond or $20, whichever is higher | No | A judge + Pretrial Services |
Most families use a surety bond when they can't put up the full amount in cash. You pay the bondsman a fee, the bondsman guarantees the full bond to the court, and the person is released. If the defendant misses court, the bondsman becomes responsible for the full amount — which is why a bondsman may require collateral or a co-signer (an indemnitor).
Approved Collin County bail bond companies
These are the bonding companies the Collin County jail will accept a surety bond from — reproduced from the Bail Bond Board's official approved list, effective April 1, 2026.
Most of these offices cluster within a few blocks of the jail and courthouse, along W. University Drive and W. Virginia Street in McKinney, with a couple in Allen and Plano. Nearly all operate 24 hours. The hours, language, and payment details on each card below come from the company's own website and are shown for information — not as a recommendation.
1st Call Bail Bonds
(214) 592-90001836 W. Virginia St., Suite 102, McKinney, TX 75069
Official site ↗Bubba's Bail Bonds
(972) 529-61681207 W. University Dr., Suite 101, McKinney, TX 75069
Official site ↗Bring 'Em Home 24/7 Bail Bonds
(214) 491-16761705 W. University Dr., Suite 121, McKinney, TX 75069
Official site ↗Not Guilty Bail Bonds
(469) 714-04041405 W. University Dr., Suite D, McKinney, TX 75069
Official site ↗Alexis Bail Bonds
(972) 802-30005820 Collin McKinney Pkwy., Suite 101, McKinney, TX 75070
Official site ↗Doc's Bail Bonds
(972) 562-60571502 W. University Dr., Suite 101, McKinney, TX 75069
Official site ↗Webb's Statewide Bail Bonds
(214) 491-16236951 Virginia Pkwy., Suite 306, McKinney, TX 75071
Official site ↗You Walk Bail Bonds
(972) 658-77531011 W. University Dr., Suite B, McKinney, TX 75069
Official site ↗How to choose a licensed bondsman (and avoid problems)
A bond is a contract. A few minutes of questions up front can save you money and headaches later.
Ask before you sign
- "Are you on the Collin County approved list?" The jail will not accept a surety bond from an unlicensed company. If they're not on the Board's list, move on.
- "What's the total cost, in writing?" Get the premium and any fees in writing before you pay. Texas does not cap the premium by law, so it varies by company and charge.
- "What collateral do you require, and when do I get it back?" Collateral (a car title, cash, property) is returned after the case if the defendant appeared — get the return terms in writing.
- "What are my obligations as the co-signer?" The indemnitor can be on the hook for the full bond if the defendant skips court. Know what you're signing.
Red flags
- Won't confirm they're on the county approved list, or won't show a license.
- Refuses to put the total cost or collateral terms in writing.
- High-pressure tactics, or a fee far above the usual ~10% range with no explanation.
- Cash only, no receipt, no written contract.
How bail bondsmen get licensed in Texas
Why "approved" means a company has posted real security with the county — the short version.
Texas bail bond sureties are licensed and regulated under Chapter 1704 of the Occupations Code, and any county of 110,000 or more — Collin County well among them — must run a Bail Bond Board to license them. A licensed bondsman must clear an experience, character, and continuing-education bar and deposit at least $50,000 in cash or property as security with the county, which is exactly why only board-approved companies can write a surety bond at the jail. Because each license is county-specific, a McKinney bondsman is licensed by Collin County, a Fort Worth one by Tarrant County, and so on.
The full statewide rules — requirements, the $50,000 security and bonding-capacity math, and how county boards work — live in our Texas guide:
The Collin County Bail Bond Board — local rules, verifying a bondsman & complaints
The board that licenses every bondsman in the county also publishes the local rules, the approved list, and the complaint form.
- What it is
- The county board that licenses and regulates every bail bond surety in Collin County under Tex. Occ. Code ch. 1704
- Who sits on it
- County officials — the sheriff, a district judge, the county judge or a commissioner, a county-court judge, the district attorney, the district and county clerks, a justice of the peace, and an elected licensed bondsman (§ 1704.053)
- Where
- 2300 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney, TX 75071 · meets monthly · official board page
The local rules
On top of the statewide statute, each county board adopts its own local rules for how bondsmen operate in that county. Collin County's are the Rules and Regulations (adopted 02-28-2022) — covering office and record-keeping requirements, receipts and collateral handling, how the approved list is maintained, and local grounds for discipline. The board page hosts those rules, the monthly meeting agendas and minutes, and the full application packet (the license application, ID-card application, personal financial statement, and real-property and spousal-consent forms).
Verify a bondsman is licensed
The board keeps the official "Approved Collin County Bond Companies" list — the same roster shown above — and, by law, posts the licensed-surety list in the county's criminal courts and inside the jail (§ 1704.105). If a company is not on that list, the jail will not accept its surety bond. The dated list is refreshed monthly, so the durable place to check is the board page itself.
File a complaint about a bondsman
A sworn complaint to the board triggers a mandatory investigation (§ 1704.251). Collin County provides a Bail Bond Board Grievance form for exactly this. Grounds for discipline include soliciting business inside the jail, recommending a particular attorney, splitting fees with unlicensed people, mishandling collateral, or letting the required security lapse (§§ 1704.252–.253). For a collateral-refund dispute on a corporate-surety bond, the Texas Department of Insurance also takes complaints.
If the defendant skips: forfeiture & your co-signer risk
The one thing every co-signer needs to know before signing — the rest of the law is in our statewide guide.
A bail bond guarantees the full bond amount: if the defendant misses court, the bondsman — and any co-signer (indemnitor) who signed — can be on the hook for it, while the bondsman applies any collateral it holds. By law a bondsman must return collateral within 30 days after the owner asks in writing and shows the case is over, though the premium itself is never refundable. If you are a defendant, a co-signer, or a bondsman facing a forfeiture, talk to a lawyer — the deadlines are short and the process is technical.
The full forfeiture process, a bondsman's surrender rights and remittitur remedies, and how to dispute collateral or fees are covered in our Texas guide:
Posting bond at the Collin County jail
Whether you pay cash yourself or use a bondsman, here's the process at the McKinney detention facility.
- Bond window
- 4300 Community Ave., McKinney, TX 75071 — open 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Accepted (cash bond)
- Cash, money orders, or cashier's checks payable to "Collin County Sheriff's Office"
- Jail surety fee
- $15 per surety bond for Class B charges and above
- Detention Bureau
- (972) 547-5200, 24 hours
- Confirm the bond amountLook the person up in the Collin County inmate search or call the Detention Bureau. Bond is set at magistration, held about twice daily (roughly 8–11 a.m. and 2–5 p.m.).
- Choose cash or a bondsmanPay the full amount as a refundable cash bond, or call an approved company above to post a surety bond for a non-refundable fee.
- Post the bondPay a cash bond at the 24/7 bond window; a bondsman handles the surety paperwork at the jail for you.
- ReleaseThe defendant is released through the Detention Facility lobby once the bond clears. Timing depends on jail volume.
What does a bail bond cost?
A worked example, so you know roughly what to expect before you call.
A bondsman's fee — the premium — is commonly around 10% of the bond amount, but Texas does not fix the rate by law, so it varies by company, the charge, and risk. The premium is non-refundable: it's what you pay the company for guaranteeing the bond. A cash bond costs the full amount but comes back to you after the case if every court date was met.
| If the bond is… | Cash bond (you pay) | Surety bond (~10% fee, typical) |
|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $1,500 — refundable | ~$150 — non-refundable |
| $5,000 | $5,000 — refundable | ~$500 — non-refundable |
| $25,000 | $25,000 — refundable | ~$2,500 — non-refundable |
On top of the bondsman's fee, the jail charges a $15 surety fee for Class B charges and above. A bondsman may also ask for collateral on larger bonds. Always get the full cost in writing before you pay.
Official Collin County bail bond resources & links
Every primary source behind this page in one place — county offices, forms, and the governing statutes.
Collin County Bail Bond Board
- Bail Bond Board home — approved companies list, forms, agendas & minutes
- Rules & Regulations (02-28-2022) — the local board rules (PDF)
- Bail Bond License Application (PDF)
- Bail Bond Board Grievance / complaint form (PDF)
Collin County Sheriff's Office
- Sheriff's Office home · (972) 547-5100
- How to post a bond — 24/7 bond window, accepted payment & bond types
- Inmate / judicial online search
Texas statutes
- Occupations Code ch. 1704 — licensing & regulation of bail bond sureties
- Code of Criminal Procedure ch. 17 — bail
- Code of Criminal Procedure ch. 22 — forfeiture of bail
- Texas Department of Insurance — corporate-surety bond complaints
After you bond out: the case isn't over
Posting bond gets the person released — it doesn't resolve the charge.
A bail bond only secures release from jail. The criminal charge is still pending, every court date still has to be met, and a missed appearance can mean a new warrant and a forfeited bond. The bondsman's job ends at release; they don't represent anyone in court or fight the charge.
The next step is talking to a criminal defense lawyer about the charge itself — what it carries, the options, and how to protect the person's record. That's where L and L Law Group comes in.
Collin County bail bond FAQ
Who are the approved bail bond companies in Collin County?
The Collin County Bail Bond Board publishes an official approved-companies list — 17 companies as of April 1, 2026, most along W. University Dr. and W. Virginia St. in McKinney, plus offices in Allen and Plano. They're listed above with phone, address, and hours. The Board rotates the order monthly, so the order isn't a ranking.
How much does a bail bond cost in Collin County?
A bondsman's premium is commonly around 10% of the bond and is non-refundable, but Texas doesn't fix the rate by law, so it varies. The jail also adds a $15 surety fee for Class B charges and above. A cash bond costs the full amount but is refundable after the case if the defendant appeared.
Can I bond someone out without a bondsman?
Yes. You can post a full cash bond yourself at the 24/7 bond window (4300 Community Ave., McKinney) with cash, a money order, or a cashier's check payable to the Collin County Sheriff's Office. You can also ask the magistrate about a personal (PR) bond, which needs a judge's approval but no money up front.
What do I need to post a bond?
The bond amount (set at magistration, shown in the inmate search) and an accepted payment method for a cash bond: cash, money order, or cashier's check payable to the Collin County Sheriff's Office. If you use a bondsman, the company handles the paperwork at the jail — you'll pay the premium and sign as indemnitor.
How do bail bondsmen get licensed in Collin County?
They're licensed by the Collin County Bail Bond Board under Chapter 1704 of the Texas Occupations Code. An applicant must be 18+, a Texas resident, have a year of full-time experience with a licensed bondsman plus 8 hours of continuing legal education, have no felony or moral-turpitude conviction, and post at least $50,000 in cash or property as security with the county. A county must have a Bail Bond Board once its population hits 110,000.
How can I check if a bondsman is licensed?
Use the Collin County Bail Bond Board's official "Approved Collin County Bond Companies" list — the same roster on this page. By law the board also posts the licensed-surety list in the county's criminal courts and the jail. If a company isn't on it, the jail won't accept its surety bond.
Can my attorney post my bail bond instead of a bondsman?
Yes. Under § 1704.163 of the Texas Occupations Code, a licensed Texas attorney can post a bond for their own client without a bondsman's license, as long as they file a notice of appearance as counsel of record. The attorney stays liable on the bond even if later replaced.
What happens if someone skips bail, and can I get my collateral back?
The bond is forfeited and the bondsman — and any co-signer — can owe the full amount; the bondsman must return collateral within 30 days after you ask in writing and show the case is over, though the premium is never refundable. The full forfeiture process and a bondsman's remedies are in our forfeiture & co-signer liability and bondsman rights & remedies guides.
Does a bondsman get me a lawyer too?
No. A bondsman only secures release. The charge is still pending and the case still has to be defended. After bonding out, talk to a criminal defense lawyer about the charge itself.
Have a question this page didn't answer? Browse more DFW jail, bond & court FAQs, or start with our complete Texas bail & bonds guide.
Charged with a crime in Collin County?
Once your loved one is out, the case still has to be handled. L&L Law Group can review the Collin County charge — free and confidential.