AO 98
Appearance Bond
AO 98, Appearance Bond, is a United States District Court form from the U.S. Courts for a criminal case captioned United States of America v. the defendant. The U.S. Courts page lists it under Pretrial Release and Appearance Bond Forms, effective on December 1, 2011, and the PDF prints the edition AO 98 (Rev. 12/11).
In the bond, the defendant agrees to follow every order of the court and that the bond may be forfeited on failure to appear for court proceedings, to surrender to serve a sentence if convicted, or, where checked, to comply with the conditions in the Order Setting Conditions of Release. The form sets out the type of bond, how it may be forfeited or released, and declarations the defendant and each surety make under penalty of perjury. The Clerk or Deputy Clerk signs it, and a judge signs under Approved.
This page explains the form in plain words and is not legal advice. You can fill it out free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.
The defendant agrees to follow every order of this court, or any court that considers the case. Two boxes are pre-marked with X, to appear for court proceedings and, if convicted, to surrender to serve a sentence. A third, to comply with the Order Setting Conditions of Release, is left to be checked.
A personal recognizance bond, an unsecured bond of a stated amount, or a secured bond of a stated amount secured by cash deposited with the court, an agreement to forfeit cash or other property, or a bail bond with a solvent surety.
Option (b) asks for a description of the cash or other property, including claims on it such as a lien, mortgage or loan, with proof of ownership and value attached. Option (c) asks for a copy of the bail bond, or a description that identifies the surety.
How the bond may be forfeited if the defendant does not comply, including a judgment of forfeiture at the request of the United States, and when the bond is satisfied and the security released.
Ownership of the Property, three statements about the owners, claims and value of the property, and Acceptance, that the defendant and each surety have read the bond and the conditions of release or had them explained.
The defendant's signature and date, three surety or property owner lines, the Clerk or Deputy Clerk's signature, and the judge's signature under Approved.
Enter the district, the defendant's name and the case number.
Enter the defendant's name in the agreement. Check the third box if the bond also covers compliance with the Order Setting Conditions of Release.
Check personal recognizance, unsecured or secured, and enter the bond amount. For a secured bond, check how it is secured and describe the cash, property or bail bond.
For property, the form asks for proof of ownership and value to be attached. For a bail bond, it asks for a copy of the bail bond or a description identifying the surety. The PDF has an Add Attachment button.
The defendant and each surety sign under the declarations made under penalty of perjury, then the clerk signs and a judge signs under Approved.
You get the real form, filled in a browser tab, with nothing standing between you and the finished PDF.
The bond is captioned for the United States District Court for the district named at the top, in the case United States of America v. the defendant.
The form says the court may immediately order the amount of the bond surrendered to the United States, including the security, if the defendant does not comply, and at the request of the United States may order a judgment of forfeiture against the defendant and each surety for the entire amount, including interest and costs.
The form says the court may order the bond ended at any time, and the bond is satisfied and the security released when the defendant is found not guilty on all charges or reports to serve a sentence.
The form says that if the bond is secured by real property, documents to protect the secured interest may be filed of record.
The form and its U.S. Courts page do not print a fee. The dollar lines on the form are for the bond amount and any cash deposited.
The U.S. Courts page offers AO 98 as a PDF (262.23 KB). The PDF has Print, Save As, Add Attachment and Reset buttons.
AO 199A
11 fields, 1 page
AO 99
30 fields, 2 pages
AO 100A
27 fields, 1 page
AO 100B
43 fields, 2 pages
AO 199B
63 fields, 2 pages
AO 199C
11 fields, 1 page
The form has signature lines for the defendant, up to three sureties or property owners, the clerk and a judge.
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The defendant, each surety or property owner (there are three lines), the Clerk or Deputy Clerk, and a judge under Approved.
A personal recognizance bond, an unsecured bond of a stated amount, or a secured bond of a stated amount secured by cash deposited with the court, an agreement to forfeit cash or other property, or a bail bond with a solvent surety.
To follow every order of the court, and that the bond may be forfeited on failure to appear for court proceedings, to surrender to serve a sentence if convicted, or, where that box is checked, to comply with all conditions in the Order Setting Conditions of Release.
The form says the court may order the bond ended at any time, and the bond is satisfied and the security released when the defendant is found not guilty on all charges or reports to serve a sentence.
Under penalty of perjury, that all owners of the property are included on the bond, the property is not subject to claims except as described, and they will not sell it, allow further claims against it, or reduce its value while the bond is in effect.
No. The form and its U.S. Courts page do not print a fee. The dollar lines on the form are for the bond amount and any cash deposited with the court.
No. This page explains the form in plain words from the U.S. Courts form and its page. It does not say which type of bond applies to anyone.
