Bail Bondsmen
Property Bail Bondsman – Individuals who pledge real property, cash or certificates of deposit issued by a federally insured institution, or any combination thereof as security for a bond that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.
Agent Bail Bondsman – Individuals who have been given power of attorney to act on behalf of a licensed Property Bail Bondsman.
Surety Bail Bondsman – Individuals who are also licensed by the State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance as a property and casualty insurance agent, and who sells, solicits, or negotiates surety insurance on behalf of insurers licensed in Virginia, pursuant to which the insurer becomes surety on or guarantees a bond that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a minimum of 18 years of age;
- Must be a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States; and
- Must have received a high school diploma or GED.
- Successfully completed all initial training requirements at a certified or licensed private security services training school. This is to include a minimum passing grade of 70% on the bail bondsman exam.
Initial Application Instructions
- Apply online at www.dcjs.virginia.gov/online, and pay applicable non-refundable fees.
NOTE: A Criminal History Processing form is part of the online initial application. There is a separate processing fee that will be reflected on your invoice.
- Schedule an appointment for fingerprints. Schedule an appointment at www.fieldprintvirginia.com or call 877-614-4364. DCJS will automatically be notified once you have been fingerprinted.
- Complete the Bail Bondsman Firearm Endorsement Application during the online application process (if applicable).
Initial Training Requirements
The compulsory minimum entry-level training hour requirement by category, excluding examinations, practical exercises and range qualification, shall be:
- 40E – Bail Bondsman Entry Level Core Training: 40 hours
- Firearms Training Entry Level (if applicable)
Additional Information for Property Bail Bondsmen
- Additionally, prior to the issuance of a property bail bondsman license, each property bail bondsman applicant will provide:
- Proof of collateral of $200,000 on his bonds and
- Proof of collateral of $200,000 on the bonds of each of his agents.
- Any collateral that is not in the form of real estate, cash, or certificates of deposit issued by a FDIC-insured financial institution shall be specifically approved by DCJS before it may be used as collateral.
- Proof of collateral of $200,000 on his bonds and
- If the property used as collateral is real estate, such real estate shall be located in Virginia and must be free and clear of all liens/obligations. In addition, the property bail bondsman applicant shall submit to DCJS:
- Property Collateral Verification Form
- Appropriate Deed of Trust form (required for each property)
- Title Certificate Report form(report required for each property)
- Certified True Copy of the Current Tax Assessment or Real Estate Appraisal (required for each property)
- Special Power of Attorney form (if applicable)
- Full Title Search
- Lien/Obligation Documentation (if applicable)
- Property Collateral Verification Form
- If the property used as collateral consists of cash or certificates of deposit, the property bail bondsman applicant shall submit to DCJS:
- Control Agreement form (required for each account)
- Current Financial Statement (required for each account)
- Special Power of Attorney form (if applicable)
- Control Agreement form (required for each account)
Additional Information for Agent Bail Bondsmen
- Upload a copy of Special Power of Attorney-Appointment of Agent form provided by your sponsoring Property Bondsman with the online application.
Additional Information for Surety Bail Bondsmen
- Upload copies of each qualifying power of attorney that will be used to provide surety. All qualifying powers of attorney filed with DCJS shall contain the name and contact information for both the surety agent and the registered agent of the issuing company. In the event an applicant for a surety bail bondsman license is unable to obtain a qualifying power of attorney prior to the issuance of his license, you will be issued a temporary licensure letter affording you thirty (30) days to submit the power of attorney to DCJS. This licensure letter will not authorize you to bond.
- Upload a copy of your Property and Casualty license issued by the State Corporation Commission (SCC).
- To view information regarding the licensing process for a Property & Casualty license, please see the SCC, Bureau of Insurance’s website at www.scc.virginia.gov/boi/index.aspx.
Renewal Application Instructions
- Renew online at www.dcjs.virginia.gov/online, and pay applicable non-refundable fees.
NOTE: A Criminal History Processing form is part of the online renewal application. There is a separate processing fee that will be reflected on your invoice.
- Schedule an appointment for fingerprints. Schedule an appointment at www.fieldprintvirginia.com or call 877-614-4364. DCJS will automatically be notified once you have been fingerprinted.
- Complete the Bail Bondsman Firearms Endorsement Application during the online application process (if applicable).
Renewal Training Requirements
- 40I – Bail Bondsmen In-Service Training: 8 hours
- Firearms Training In-Service (if applicable)
Additional Information for Property Bail Bondsmen
- If the property used as collateral is real estate, such real estate shall be located in Virginia and must be free and clear of all liens/obligations. In addition, the property bail bondsman applicant shall submit to DCJS: (required for each property)
- Property Collateral Verification Form
- Certified True Copy of the Current Tax Assessment or Real Estate Appraisal (if appraisal is over 5 years old)
- Updated Title Search
- Lien/Obligation Documentation (if applicable)
- For any new properties being pledged as collateral, please refer to the Initial Property Bondman requirements
- Property Collateral Verification Form
- If the property used as collateral consists of cash or certificates of deposit, the property bail bondsman applicant shall submit to DCJS:
- Current Financial Statement (required for each account)
- For any new cash or certificate of deposit accounts, please refer to the Initial Property Bondsman requirements
- Current Financial Statement (required for each account)
Additional Information for Agent Bail Bondsmen
- Submit copy of Special Power of Attorney-Appointment of Agent form provided by your sponsoring Property Bondsman.
Additional Information for Surety Bail Bondsmen
- Submit copies of each qualifying power of attorney that will be used to provide surety. All qualifying powers of attorney filed with DCJS shall contain the name and contact information for both the surety agent and the registered agent of the issuing company. In the event an applicant for a surety bail bondsman license is unable to obtain a qualifying power of attorney prior to the issuance of his license, you will be issued a temporary licensure letter affording you 30 days to submit the power of attorney to DCJS. This licensure letter will not authorize you to bond.
- Submit copy of Property & Casualty license issued by State Corporation Commission (SCC).
- To view information regarding the licensing process for a Property & Casualty license, please see the SCC, Bureau of Insurance’s website at www.scc.virginia.gov/boi/index.aspx.
PROPERTY BAIL BONDSMAN APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
(Va. Code § 9.1-185.5 and 6VAC20-250-40)
Bail Bondsman License Application
- Completed bail bondsman license application and all required fees.
- Renewal applications are required to be submitted at least 30 days before license expiration.
- Submit a Criminal History Processing Form with the applicable non-refundable processing fee. and schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints scanned. To schedule an appointment go to www.fieldprintvirginia.com or call 877-614-4364.
- Incomplete applications will be returned.
Property Collateral Verification Form
- Completed Property Collateral Verification (PCV) Form.
- Include all property being pledged as collateral, its value and the portion of that value being pledged. Complete, readable copies of all required supporting documentation.
- Proof of sufficient pledged collateral to meet the $200,000 requirement for the property bondsman and an additional $200,000 for each agent property bondsman.
- Incomplete applications will be returned.
COLLATERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENT
Real Estate Collateral - (Va. Code § 9.1-185.5.C.)
Title Certificate Report
A completed DCJS Title Certificate Report Form.
A complete copy of the title search.
Complete copies of all supporting documentation used by the abstractor, including but not limited to all deeds of trust, easements, full copies of all notices of all judgments, notices of liens, easements, proof of satisfaction of liens, etc.
Proof of Real Estate Property Value
Appraisal Method - (Va. Code § 9.1-185.5.1.b and 6VAC20-250-40.C.1.b.)
Department of Criminal Justice Services must be an intended user of the appraisal.
A completed copy of the DCJS Third Party Beneficiary Addendum for Appraisal included as an addendum to the appraisal.
An appraisal for the current use of the property completed by a properly licensed appraiser and meets the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
Tax Assessment Method - (Va. Code § 9.1-185.5.1.a and 6VAC20-250-40.C.1.a.)
A true copy of the current real estate tax assessment, certified by the appropriate assessing officer of the locality wherein the property is located.
Deed of Trust - (Va. Code § 9.1-185.5.C.4 and 6VAC20-250-40.C.4)
A separate Deed of Trust for each real estate property used as collateral.
Must use the appropriate DCJS deed of trust form according to the type of ownership interest (Single, Husband & Wife, Joint Tenants, or Tenants-in-Common).
Name the local Commonwealth’s Attorney (where the property is located) as the beneficiary.
The dollar amount of the Deed of Trust must be equal to the full amount of the indebtedness of the property bail bondsman (total amount of pledged collateral x 4).
All Deeds of Trust must be properly recorded.
Release of Deeds of Trust
Submit a written request to the Department after all of the outstanding bonds written against the pledged property (-ties) have been properly released by the court.
At that time, a Certificate of Satisfaction or Certificate of Partial Satisfaction may be issued by the Department to release the deed of trust.
All Certificates of Satisfaction must be properly recorded.
Property Ownership - Additional Requirements
Property Bondsman must have an ownership interest in the property.
Special Power of Attorney must be submitted from the appropriate person.
If the property pledged is owned by any of the following please provide the additional information listed below:
- LLC or Corporation:
- List of Managing Members
- Copy of Operating Agreement
- Family Trust:
- List of Managing Members/All Trustees
- All Authorized Signers
- All Designated Trustees
- Complete copy of the Trust
- Partnership:
- Copy of Operating Agreement
- General Partner
- LLC or Corporation:
Cash or Certificates of Deposit Collateral - (Va. Code § 9.1-185.5.C.2 and 6VAC20-250-40.C.2)
Submit the appropriate completed DCJS Control Agreement Form for each account pledged.
The dollar amount of the Control Agreement must be equal to the full amount of the indebtedness of the property bail bondsman (total amount of pledged collateral x 4).
There are three control agreement forms available for this purpose:
APPOINTMENT OF AGENT BAIL BONDSMEN
- Submit a DCJS Special Power of Attorney – Appointment of Agent for each agent property bail bondsman working for you.
- Submit proof of sufficient collateral in the amount of $200,000 for each agent.