TCA 40-11-315
Reduction or refund of premium on bail, bond or surety
VIOLATIONViolation
What does this charge mean?
When a professional bondsman writes a bail bond for a specific time period and the defendant is surrendered early (or the case is dismissed or resolved), the bondsman must refund or reduce the premium proportionally based on the unused time—unless the defendant is arrested on a new charge, the bond is forfeited or revoked, or the court accepts surrender under specific grounds. This protects defendants from being overcharged when bonds end early.
Penalty Details
ClassificationViolation
Penalty SummaryViolation
(a) Whenever any professional bondsman, as defined in § 40-11-301, furnishes bail, makes bond or furnishes surety for the appearance, before any court in this state, of any person charged with a criminal offense or a violation of any law, by means of a contract for a specified period of time, in which the bondsman acts as surety for appearance, the premium on the contract shall be reduced or refunded upon surrender of the person charged with the criminal offense or violation of a law in an amount in direct proportion of the percentage of the unexpired term of the contract to the total amount of the premium, unless that person is arrested on an additional criminal charge while released on bail or if the bond or surety is forfeited or revoked by the court having jurisdiction of that person or if the court accepts the surrender of the defendant based upon one (1) or more of the grounds set forth in § 40-11-132. Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!(1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105(b) If the premium is payable in equal installments, no further payment shall be due or payable upon surrender of the bonded person to the court. This section applies only to those contracts made on or after July 1, 1972.
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026
Quick Facts
VIOLATION
TCA Section40-11-315