Yes, there's a possibility that your credit score could get hurt if you co-sign for a bail bond.
In California, a bail bondsman typically has six months to find and return the defendant. If the defendant is not found in the timeframe, you will be responsible for paying not only the full amount of the bond, but also any additional expenses and any unpaid premiums.
Having a cosigner does not impact your FICO score. A loan where you brought on a cosigner, is treated no differently than a loan where no co signer was present.
The bail bond agent will need you to sign some paperwork in order for you to secure their services. This usually means paying an amount to the agent, usually a percentage of the total bail amount, and signing off on any collateral for the bond.
When bail is exonerated it means you or the bail bondsman gets their deposit back from the court clerk. When the defendant is exonerated, it means the charges are dropped and the defendant is no longer suspected of any wrongdoing. Last but not least, it is possible for bail exonerations to be denied.
Bail bond agents may demand you repay the full sum, which could be upwards of $100,000 in some cases. You also risk damaging your relationship with the defendant. If you co-sign their bail bond and they abscond, you could lose them as a part of your life.
In general, an exoneration occurs when a person who has been convicted of a crime is officially cleared after new evidence of innocence becomes available.
A bail bond is exonerated when the legal process/trial has finished. It does not matter whether the defendant is found guilty/innocent or if the case has been dismissed. At this point, the bail bond is discharged. However, any unpaid premium, fees or other amounts charged by the bail service provider are still owed.