THE QUICK ANSWER
The ordered bail amount is not the same as a bonding company’s fee. Direct cash requires the full accepted amount plus applicable charges. Fulton publishes a company fee cap of 15% of the bond’s face amount including surcharges, with a $50 minimum per charge or offense allowed instead. Get an itemized quote and the amount due now.
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What will I need to pay now?
Ask for a written, itemized total before paying a company. The total company fee, the first payment, a remaining balance and collateral are different obligations. This guide has no selected company and cannot quote an initial payment or promise a payment plan.
- What is the bond amount for every charge, and which surcharges are included in the fee calculation?
- What is the full company compensation, what must be paid today and what remains due later?
- Are jail, court, processing or other separately identified charges included in the quoted amount?
- What are the dates and amounts of future payments? What happens if a payment is missed?
- Is a cosigner or collateral required? How will it be documented and returned?
Separate the bond, fee and other charges
A judge’s release order sets the required bond or conditions. A company charges for providing its bond. Fulton’s Sheriff states that a professional bonding company may charge up to 15% of the face amount, including applicable surcharges, or a minimum of $50 per charge or offense even when that exceeds the percentage. The published maximum is not a promised quote or a required rate for every company.
Fulton also lists surcharges and a nonrefundable $20 fee for each bond instrument. Multiple instruments may be required. Ask for the official total instead of adding $20 just once to a multi charge case. A company fee is ordinarily retained, but Georgia law has specific surrender and refund rules. See the refunds guide before treating every possible outcome as nonrefundable.
Collateral secures obligations under an agreement; it is not automatically part of the fee or the first payment. Do not compare quotes until you know which of these amounts each quote includes.
Source: Fulton County Sheriff: bond posting and refunds · Georgia: signed Senate Bill 63, 2024, section 6
If paying the authority directly
For a county cash bond, confirm the full amount plus the applicable surcharges and $20 charge for each instrument. Fulton’s online limit is published as $2,500 including fees and surcharges. The Sheriff’s pages do not supply a dependable current online processing fee or cardholder rule, so confirm those before using the payment service. The linked provider website loaded, but Fulton was absent from its Georgia jail selector during this review. Confirm a currently usable, authorized Fulton payment route with the jail before relying on online payment.
The Sheriff’s cash bond pages conflict about counter payments: the bond page says checks and cards are not accepted, while the jail page lists cash, cashier’s checks and postal money orders. Call 404-613-2002 or 404-662-3516 before obtaining a payment instrument. Ask about the exact amount, payee, identification, fees and counter location.
The person recorded as surety controls the county cash refund. For the online route Fulton says that is the defendant, even when another person supplies funds. Atlanta city cases follow a separate office and fee schedule; confirm the actual custodian and court before using county figures.
Source: Fulton County Sheriff: bond posting and refunds · Fulton County Sheriff: jail information and services
Ask about your actual bail bond cost.
Ask about the total company fee, separate charges, payment terms and any collateral for the bail bond.
Sources for this guide
- Fulton County Sheriff: bond posting and refunds
- Georgia: signed Senate Bill 63, 2024, section 6
- Fulton County Sheriff: jail information and services
Sources checked 2026-09-16. Follow the current order and the official instructions for the case.