Tulsa County’s Surety Bail Specialists Since 2006

Tulsa County Surety Bail Bonds: How the Process Works

When someone is arrested in Tulsa County and a bond amount gets set, families have a short window to act and usually very little understanding of what they are actually paying for. The most common type of bond posted in Tulsa County is a surety bail bond — and understanding exactly what that means, what it costs, and what obligations it creates helps families make faster, better decisions when time matters most.

At Signature Bail Bonds, surety bail is the foundation of what we do. This page explains the process from the moment of arrest to the moment your loved one walks out the door.

What Surety Bail Is Under Oklahoma Law

Oklahoma Statutes Title 59, Section 1301 defines a surety bondsman as any person approved by the Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner and appointed by an insurer by power of attorney to execute or countersign bail bonds for that insurer in connection with judicial proceedings.

In plain terms, surety bail works like this. When a court sets a bond amount, the defendant or their family cannot always pay that full amount directly to the court. A surety bondsman — a licensed professional backed by an insurance company — steps in and guarantees the full bond amount to the court on the defendant’s behalf. The family pays the bondsman a premium, which is the fee for that guarantee. The bondsman assumes the financial risk that the defendant will appear at all required court dates.

Surety bail is the most widely used form of bail bond in Oklahoma and across the United States because it allows defendants to get out of jail without paying the full bond amount out of pocket.

How Surety Bail Differs From Other Types of Bonds

Oklahoma law recognizes several types of bail bonds, and families sometimes confuse them. Understanding the difference prevents surprises.

A cash bond requires the defendant or their family to pay the full bond amount directly to the court in cash. If the defendant appears at all court dates, the court returns the cash at the end of the case — minus any court fees. Cash bonds make sense when the bond amount is small and the family has the full amount available. For larger bonds, cash bonding is often impractical.

A property bond allows a defendant or their family to pledge real property — typically real estate — as security for the bond. The property must carry enough equity to cover the full bond amount, and the court places a lien on it. Property bonds involve more paperwork and take significantly longer to process than surety bonds.

A personal recognizance bond — sometimes called an OR bond — releases the defendant based solely on their promise to appear, with no financial payment required. Oklahoma courts grant personal recognizance bonds at their discretion based on the charge, the defendant’s history, and their ties to the community. Certain charges, including domestic violence offenses under Oklahoma Statutes Title 22, Section 1105, disqualify defendants from personal recognizance bonds entirely.

A surety bond through a licensed bondsman covers the gap that exists when a defendant cannot cash bond and does not qualify for personal recognizance. It provides the court with a financially backed guarantee — backed by a licensed insurance carrier — that the defendant will appear.

Who Can Write Surety Bonds in Tulsa County

Oklahoma law sets specific requirements for who can legally write surety bail bonds. Under Oklahoma Statutes Title 59, Section 1320, no bail bondsman can become a surety on an undertaking without first registering their license with the court clerk in any county where they intend to write bonds. That registration requires the bondsman to hold a current license issued by the Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner and to file a certified copy of their appointment by power of attorney from the insurer they represent.

The Tulsa County Court Clerk maintains a list of bondsmen permitted to write bail in Tulsa County, updated monthly, and law enforcement posts that list near phones accessible to prisoners at David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center.

Signature Bail Bonds holds all required licensure and registration in Tulsa County. Steven Fletcher and Sandie Fletcher are both licensed bail agents in Oklahoma, and our agents operate under the requirements set by the Oklahoma Insurance Department.

How the Tulsa County Surety Bond Process Works Step by Step

Understanding the sequence of events helps families move faster and avoid wasted time.

The process starts at booking. After arrest, Tulsa County jail staff book the defendant into David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center. For most charges, booking staff assign a preset bond amount from the Tulsa County bond schedule. For more serious felony charges, the court sets bond individually at arraignment, which means the defendant waits in custody until that hearing occurs.

Once a bond amount exists, call Signature Bail Bonds at 918-SIGNOUT (918-744-6688). Provide the defendant’s full legal name, date of birth, the facility holding them, and the bond amount if you have it. If you do not have the bond amount yet, we can look it up.

We complete the required paperwork — the appearance bond, the power of attorney from our insurer, and the indemnitor agreement with the cosigner — before we go to the facility. Under Oklahoma Statutes Title 59, Section 1316, the bondsman must sign the bond in the presence of the official receiving it, and the premium charged must appear on the appearance bond prior to filing. We handle all of this correctly and completely every time.

After the paperwork is complete, we present the surety bond to the Tulsa County jail. Staff then process the release, which involves confirming the bond, completing internal paperwork, and physically releasing the defendant. At Signature Bail Bonds, we stay in contact with the cosigner throughout this process and provide an expected release window once the bond is presented. Typical release times at David L. Moss run between two and six hours after the bond posts, depending on facility volume at the time.

What a Surety Bond Costs in Tulsa County

Oklahoma law sets the standard premium for surety bail bonds at 10 percent of the total bond amount. This is the fee charged for the bondsman’s guarantee — it is not a deposit, and it is not refundable regardless of how the case resolves.

Signature Bail Bonds charges the standard 10 percent premium. On a $5,000 bond, the premium is $500. On a $20,000 bond, the premium is $2,000. The full premium is due at or before the time the bond is posted.

For families who cannot cover the full premium upfront, Signature Bail Bonds offers no-interest financing on qualifying bonds. We also offer cash discounts for clients who pay the full premium in cash at the time of signing. Call us to discuss what options apply to your specific situation.

Collateral beyond the signed indemnitor agreement is not required in most cases. For larger bonds or situations involving higher flight risk, we may ask for additional security. We discuss this clearly upfront — there are no surprises after paperwork is signed.