How do I Become a Bail Bondsman in Travis County, Texas?

The Travis County Bail Bond Board supervises bail bondsmen in the county.

Bail bondsmen in Texas, including Travis County, must meet the qualifications the State of Texas sets forth in the Texas Occupation Code, Section 1704. The Travis County Bail Bond Board is the enforcement authority for bail bondsmen in the county, oversees every aspect of the bonds business in the county and issues bail bondsman licenses. As of 2010, the agency does not offer online access to the application. You must make arrangements to have the documents mailed or emailed to you.

Instructions

1. Contact the Travis County Bail Bonds Board to obtain an application. As of 2010, the board does not offer online access to applications, so you must visit the office to pick up a copy or arrange for one to be delivered by mail or email.

2. Complete the application and attach all necessary documentation. The original application and materials, plus 15 copies of all documents, must be delivered, in person, to the Travis County Bail Bond Board. Bail bondsmen applications include a completed, sworn financial statement, three personal references, a release of information authorization, a photograph and a completed fingerprint card.

   The Travis County Bail Bond Board is located at:

   509 W. 11th St., Ste. 1.700

   Austin, TX 78701

   512-854-3105

   co.travis.tx.us

3. Pay the application filing fee of $500, using a money order, cashier's check or personal check, to the Travis County Bail Bond Board. Make the money order or check payable to Travis County.

4. Deposit security worth $50,000 with the Travis County Treasurer upon approval of your bail bondsman application. Bail bondsmen in Travis County are required to deliver a cash deposit, or the deed to land valued at the same amount, to the county to secure their bail bonds license. The security deposit must be delivered, in person, to the Travis County Treasurer's Office in the form of a certified bank check, a certificate of deposit or cash. Alternatively, to secure your license with property, a warranty deed to the property must be personally delivered to the county treasurer at:

   314 W. 11th St., Ste. 160

   Austin, TX 78701

   Phone: [phone]

   Fax: [phone]

Tips & Warnings

• You may submit the original application and documents plus a compact disc copy of the entire application file in lieu of 15 paper copies.

References

• Travis County Bail Board
• Vickie Herrera, Clerk; Travis County Bail Bond Board; Austin, Texas