Bond Information

Posted to release someone from custody or to quash a warrant. See Criminal Division webpage for more information.

• Must be posted in person.
  • Poster should present identification.
  • May file a motion to request to post by phone.
• Can be posted in cash, cashier’s check, money order, debit or credit card.
  • If by card, card holder must be present
  • If by cashier’s check/money order, make payable to Scottsdale City Court
  • Judge may require cash only.
• Can’t post by mail.
• Can’t post by personal check.
• Can be posted by a bondsman or 3rd party.
• If defendant is in custody:
  • Bond must be posted with the agency that is physically holding the defendant.
  • Example: Defendant is being held at a Maricopa County jail facility, then the bond must be posted with Maricopa County.
  • Example: Defendant is being held in Scottsdale jail then bond must be posted with Scottsdale jail if outside Scottsdale Court business hours.
• If defendant is not in custody:
  • Bond can be posted in person at the Scottsdale City Court.
• Defendant must abide by the conditions of release and appear at next court date.
• If defendant fails to appear at any hearing or fails to follow any other court ordered conditions of release:
  • The bond may be forfeited and the proceedings held without defendant.
  • If convicted, defendant will be required to appear for sentencing.
  • If defendant fails to appear at the sentencing, they may lose the right to direct appeal.
  • The Judge may order a warrant for the defendant's arrest and a bond forfeiture hearing scheduled.
    • All parties involved will be notified of the date and time.
• Bond can be held until the defendant is no longer required to appear for future court dates.

An appellant or cross-appellant may obtain a stay of execution of judgment by filing a bond in the trial court in an amount equal to the judgment and costs.

• You can post the bond in person or by mailing the Court a check, cashier’s check, money order for the fine amount. You must include on the check that you want it posted as bond, include the case number, make payable to Scottsdale City Court.
• Bond can stay the sentencing during the duration of the appeal:
  • Default judgments
  • MVD reporting
  • FARE referral (collections)
  • Additional fees
• The bond may be filed before or after the filing of the notice of appeal.
• The stay is effective when the bond, if any, is filed.

For some civil traffic charges, the charge may be dismissed, or the fines may be reduced or suspended when proof is filed and accepted by the Court. See Civil Traffic Cases webpage for more information.

• To avoid paying the time payment fee, due to not paying in full on the day of sentencing, you may post the fine amount as bond when you mail in your proof.
• You can post the bond in person or by mailing the Court a check, cashier’s check, money order for the fine amount. You must include on the check that you want it posted as bond, include the case number, make payable to Scottsdale City Court.
• If the Court decides to enter judgement, suspend or reduce the fine, the bond will be applied to the fine amount and any remaining balance will be refunded.  The Court will process the bond refund within 30 days.
• If the Court decides to dismiss the charge, the Court will process the bond refund within 30 days.

If you are unable to attend a civil traffic hearing in person, you may request a documentary hearing.  A documentary hearing is where you submit your testimony in writing to the court. See Civil Traffic Cases webpage for more information.

• To avoid paying the time payment fee, due to not paying in full on the day of sentencing, you may post the fine amount as bond when you mail in your documentary hearing paperwork. 
• You can post the bond in person or by mailing the Court a check, cashier’s check, money order for the fine amount. You must include on the check that you want it posted as bond, include the case number, make payable to Scottsdale City Court.
• If the Court decides to enter judgement, suspend or reduce the fine, the bond will be applied to the fine amount and any remaining balance will be refunded.  The Court will process the bond refund within 30 days. 
• If the Court decides to dismiss the charge, the Court will process the bond refund within 30 days.

If you are unable to resolve your criminal matter in person, you may request a plea by mail/telephone.  Plea by mail/telephone is where you submit your plea paperwork in writing to the court.

• To avoid paying the time payment fee, you may post the fine amount as bond when you mail in your plea by mail/telephone paperwork. 
• You can post the bond by completing the plea by mail/telephone credit card authorization form or mailing the Court a check, cashier’s check, money order for the fine amount. You must include on the check that you want it posted as bond, include the case number, make payable to Scottsdale City Court.
• If the Court decides to enter judgement, the bond will be applied to the fine amount.

A Bond Forfeiture Hearing is a court hearing that is set when the defendant, who has an appearance/warrant bond posted, fails to appear for a scheduled court date.

• All parties involved will be notified of the date and time.
• The Judge will determine if the bond poster has made all efforts to get the Defendant to appear. The bond can be held for future court dates, returned to bond poster or forfeited to the fine/city.

Posted bonds can be ordered by the judge to be refunded/exonerated (returned) to the poster or designee.

• The bond or a portion is returned to the poster unless signed over to a designee or 3rd party.
• Court will process the bond refund within 30 days. The court must have a current mailing address.
  • Complete and return a Bond Information Update form either notarized or with a clear copy of the Bond Posters ID to verify their identity.
• Depending on how the bond was posted, the refund will be sent via mail or returned on the credit card used to post bond. Cash and/or check(s) are refunded by a mailed check whereas credit cards may be refunded back to the original card.

Posted bonds can be ordered by the Judge to be forfeited (used/given) to the fine and/or city.

• The bond amount can be used to pay the fines, fees, surcharges, and/or restitution if the person who posted the bond, agreed to the bond conversion.
• The bond amount can be forfeited to the city when a defendant fails to appear.