Fast, Reliable Bail Services When You Need Them Most!
Nobody expects to get that phone call. Your brother, your son, your spouse; suddenly they’re sitting in the Bexar County Jail on North Comal, and you’re scrambling to figure out how to post bail.
We here at McRae Bail Bonds have been helping San Antonio families through exactly this situation for years. Whether someone got arrested Downtown near the courthouse during Fiesta week, over on the Eastside near the AT&T Center, or anywhere around the 210, we know these jails and how they work. More importantly, we know how to get people out fast.
Look, the bail process can be confusing if you’ve never dealt with it before. There’s paperwork, there’s waiting around, and honestly, some operations will leave you hanging when you need answers most. That’s not how we operate as your 24 hour bail bondsman.
We’re available around the clock because arrests don’t happen on a schedule. Our phone doesn’t go to voicemail at 2 AM, and we don’t make you wait until “business hours” to start working on getting your family member home.
Need help right now? Call (210) 463-5561) and let’s get this handled.
We Handle Most Types of Bail Bonds
Here’s the thing about bail bonds; they’re not all the same. Whether someone got arrested near the Pearl District or down in Southtown, the type of bond depends on what happened and what the judge decided.
We handle general bail bonds for most arrests, but sometimes the court wants cash only bail bonds, which means no financing options. That’s frustrating, but we’ll walk you through your choices. Got a DUI situation on 281 or I-35? We deal with DUI bail bonds regularly and know exactly what documentation the Bexar County courts expect.
For smaller charges, you might qualify for signature bail bonds, where someone just needs to sign promising the person will show up to court. Surety bail bonds are our bread and butter for more serious cases; that’s where we put up the money and you pay us a percentage.
Whatever type you’re dealing with, McRae Bail Bonds has seen it before. Some bail company operations only handle certain kinds of cases. We don’t pick and choose.
We Know San Antonio’s Jails Better Than Anyone
Most bail agents in town can handle the paperwork, but do they actually know the ins and outs of each facility? We’ve been getting people out of the Bexar County Jail on North Comal Street for years. We know which deputies work which shifts, how long processing usually takes, and what paperwork gets things moving faster.
The San Antonio Detention Center downtown on South Frio? Different story entirely. City arrests get processed there first before potentially moving to county. Whether someone got picked up near the Pearl District, in the King William area, or anywhere from Alamo Heights to the West Side, we know exactly where they’ll end up.
We also handle cases from the far reaches; Stone Oak, Helotes, even out toward Schertz when Bexar County has jurisdiction.
Here’s what separates any bail bonds office from the rest: while other companies are calling around trying to figure out where someone is, McRae Bail Bonds already knows the system inside and out.
The Bail Bonds Process in San Antonio, TX
Most people have no clue how this works in San Antonio, and honestly, it’s more straightforward than you’d think.
First, they book your person at either the detention center on South Frio or county jail on North Comal; fingerprints, photos, the whole deal. Then comes the magistrate hearing, usually within 24 hours at the Bexar County Courthouse. That’s when the judge sets bail.
Once bail is set, we post bail immediately. You don’t need the full amount; typically just 10% as our fee. We handle the jail bonds paperwork and put up the rest. The tricky part is making sure everything’s perfect, because one missing signature means they sit there longer.
After we file with the court, the release starts. County takes 2-4 hours, downtown varies by shift. From Southtown to Stone Oak, the bail bonds process works the same way throughout San Antonio.
Bottom line: McRae Bail Bonds handles every step so you don’t figure this out alone.
Why McRae Bail Bonds Gets Results
Here’s what separates us from other bail bond companies around San Antonio: we actually answer our phones. Sounds basic, right? But when you’re panicking at 3 AM because someone got arrested near the Pearl District or downtown, you don’t want to leave voicemails. We provide 24 bail assistance because emergencies don’t wait for business hours.
We’ve built relationships with staff at both facilities over the years. When we walk into the Bexar County Jail or the detention center on South Frio, they know us. That means faster processing, fewer delays, and honest answers about timing.
Other companies might promise the world, then disappear when complications arise. McRae Bail Bonds sticks with every jail bond case until your family member walks out. Whether it’s a simple release in Alamo Heights or a complex situation in Southtown, our bail services don’t stop at paperwork. You’re getting advocates who know San Antonio’s system inside and out. Call (210) 463-5561) and see the difference.
Our Service Areas
Getting arrested doesn’t happen in convenient locations. That’s why McRae Bail Bonds serves everywhere from Downtown San Antonio to the far reaches of Bexar County and six surrounding counties.
Within San Antonio, we handle cases from the Pearl District to Southtown, from Stone Oak to the Medical Center area. Whether someone got picked up in Alamo Heights, Universal City, or way out in Helotes, we know those jurisdictions and their procedures.
But arrests don’t stop at city limits. We also work throughout Comal County in New Braunfels, Guadalupe County in Seguin, and Kendall County in Boerne. Each county has different jails, different paperwork, different timing; and we’ve handled cases in all of them.
Some bail bond companies stick to easy cases close to home. We don’t cherry-pick. Whether it’s a simple release downtown or a complex case out in Floresville, our service areas cover everywhere families need help.
About John McRae and Our San Antonio Team
John McRae didn’t stumble into the bail bonds business. He’s been helping San Antonio families for over 3 decades, and he personally oversees every case to make sure it gets handled right.
What sets John apart is his deep knowledge of our local legal system. He knows the courts, the jails on North Comal and South Frio, and exactly how bail bonds work around Bexar County. While other bail agents are still learning basic procedures, John’s already earned the trust of attorneys and law enforcement from Downtown to Stone Oak.
John built this operation on the belief that people deserve straight answers during their worst moments. No runaround, no surprises; just honest help getting someone home.
McRae Bail Bonds serves every corner of San Antonio, from Southtown to the Medical Center area. Whether it’s 2 PM or 2 AM, John makes sure our team answers the phone when families need us. When you’re dealing with an arrest, experience matters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I bail someone out of jail in San Antonio?
Get their full legal name, date of birth, and which facility they’re in, Bexar County Jail on North Comal or the downtown detention center on South Frio. If you have their booking number, even better. Then call McRae Bail Bonds at (210) 463-5561 and we’ll start the paperwork while you’re still on the phone. John McRae has been personally walking bonds through Bexar County facilities for over 30 year; he knows every intake procedure, every shift rotation, and exactly how to move your case fast. Most families get their loved one home in 2 to 4 hours. Don’t waste time calling ten companies. Call the one that’s been doing this in San Antonio since the 1980s.
2. How much does a bail bond cost in San Antonio, and is it refundable?
The standard bail bond fee in Texas is 10% of the total bail amount set by the court. If bail is set at $10,000, you pay $1,000 to the bondsman, that fee is not refundable. What you’re paying for is the bondsman covering the full bail amount and getting your family member released, usually within hours instead of days or weeks. If you pay the full bail amount in cash directly to the court, you do eventually get that back minus court fees, but most families don’t have tens of thousands sitting around. McRae Bail Bonds also works with families on collateral, payment plans, and creative solutions when money is tight. Call (210) 463-5561 and we’ll walk through your options honestly.
3. Is it worth using a bail bondsman, or should I pay cash bail?
Unless you have the full bail amount in cash and don’t mind it being tied up for months while the case moves through the courts, a bondsman is the faster and more practical choice for most San Antonio families. The 10% fee is a fraction of what you stand to lose if your husband misses another week at H-E-B, your daughter loses her nursing position at University Hospital, or your son’s construction crew gets reassigned. John McRae has watched families lose jobs, custody, and homes trying to scrape together full bail instead of making one phone call. The math is simple: the bond fee keeps your family employed and together while the case gets resolved.
4. How long do you sit in jail if you can’t make bail in Texas?
Until the case is resolved, which could be weeks, months, or over a year depending on the charges and court backlog. Texas law requires a bond hearing within 48 hours of arrest, but weekends and holidays stretch that out, and some charges mean longer holds. John McRae has seen people sit for eight months in Bexar County on charges that were eventually dismissed; and families that never financially recovered from the lost income, missed rent, and broken relationships. Every day someone stays in jail costs more on the outside than a bail bond ever would. Call McRae Bail Bonds at (210) 463-5561 before the damage gets worse.
5. Can you bail someone out of jail at night or on weekends in San Antonio?
Yes, and this is where experience matters more than anything else. McRae Bail Bonds operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because arrests don’t wait for business hours. The night and weekend crews at Bexar County facilities know John McRae personally; they’ve been processing his bonds for decades. While other companies send calls to voicemail or tell you to wait until Monday, we’re already working with staff who trust our paperwork and move it through fast. Don’t let your loved one sit through the weekend because you called a company that doesn’t actually work nights. Call (210) 463-5561 any time, day or night.
6. What if I can’t afford the bail bond fee?
McRae Bail Bonds has found solutions for thousands of San Antonio families in every financial situation; teachers, nurses, construction workers, retirees on Social Security, single parents stretching every dollar. We accept car titles, jewelry, electronics, and other valuables as collateral. We offer payment plans. We’ve worked with families who pooled money across three generations to get one person home. What you truly cannot afford is leaving someone in jail while jobs are lost, rent goes unpaid, and relationships fall apart. Call (210) 463-5561 and tell us your situation honestly. If there’s a way to make it work, we’ll find it.
7. Can a bail bondsman deny you, or are some people ineligible for bail?
A bail bondsman can decline a case if the risk is too high; for example, if the defendant is a serious flight risk or the co-signer can’t handle the financial responsibility. Some bigger chain operations deny people based on rigid corporate policies. McRae Bail Bonds looks at the whole picture, not just credit scores and criminal history. John McRae has found ways to help families that other companies walked away from because he understands this community. Separately, if a judge sets a cash-only bond, no bondsman can post it; but we can point you to attorneys who handle bond reduction hearings and tell you which judges may reconsider. Straight answers, not false hope. Call (210) 463-5561.
8. What should I know before calling a bail bondsman in San Antonio?
Have the arrested person’s full legal name, date of birth, and which jail they’re in. The booking number helps but isn’t required. Know the charges if you can. And most importantly, just tell the truth about your situation;John McRae has heard everything in 40 years and nothing shocks him. What matters is getting your family member home, not making the story sound better than it is. McRae Bail Bonds is a family-owned operation that has served San Antonio since the 1980s, speaks Spanish, and accepts all major credit cards, cash, and checks. Our office is at 4023 S. Presa St., San Antonio, TX 78223. Call (210) 463-5561 and someone who actually solves problems will answer.