Utah § 77-20-402 - Payment of monetary bail to court -- Specific payment methods -- Refund of monetary bail.
Full text of Utah Utah Code § 77-20-402 — Payment of monetary bail to court -- Specific payment methods -- Refund of monetary bail., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 77-20-402. Payment of monetary bail to court -- Specific payment methods -- Refund of monetary bail.
Effective 5/6/2026 77-20-402.
Payment of monetary bail to court -- Specific payment methods -- Refund of monetary bail.
(1)
Subject to Subsection (2), a defendant may choose to post the amount of monetary bail imposed by a judge or magistrate by any of the following methods:
(a)
in cash;
(b)
by a bail bond with a surety;
(c)
by an unsecured bond, at the discretion of the judge or magistrate; or
(d)
by credit or debit card, at the discretion of the judge or magistrate.
(2)
A judge or magistrate may limit a defendant to a specific method of posting monetary bail described in Subsection (1):
(a)
if, after charges are filed, the defendant fails to appear in the case on a bail bond and the case involves a violent offense;
(b)
in order to allow the defendant to voluntarily pay the recommended fine amount in accordance with Section 77-7-21 and the offense with which the defendant is charged is listed in the shared master offense table as one for which an appearance is not mandatory;
(c)
if the defendant has failed to respond to a citation or summons and the offense with which the defendant is charged is listed in the shared master offense table as one for which an appearance is not mandatory;
(d)
if a warrant is issued for the defendant solely for failure to pay a criminal accounts receivable, as defined in Section 77-32b-102, and the defendant's monetary bail is limited to the amount owed; or
(e)
if a court has entered a judgment of bail bond forfeiture under Section 77-20-505 in any case involving the defendant.
(3)
Monetary bail may not be accepted without receiving in writing at the time the bail is posted the current mailing address, telephone number, and email address of the surety.
(4)
Monetary bail posted by debit or credit card, less the fee charged by the financial institution, shall be tendered to the courts.
(5)
(a)
Monetary bail refunded by the court may be refunded by credit to the debit or credit card or in cash.
(b)
The amount refunded shall be the full amount received by the court under Subsection (4), which may be less than the full amount of the monetary bail set by the judge or magistrate.
(c)
Before refunding monetary bail that is posted by the defendant in cash, by credit card, or by debit card, the court may apply the amount posted toward a criminal accounts receivable, as defined in Section 77-32b-102, that is owed by the defendant in the priority set forth in Section 77-38b-304.
Section 77-20-402 ("Payment of monetary bail to court -- Specific payment methods -- Refund of monetary bail.") is part of the Utah Code, the codified statutory law of Utah. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Utah § 77-20-402?
A common citation format is "Utah Code § 77-20-402" (Utah). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Utah law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Utah official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Utah attorney.
How does Utah § 77-20-402 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Utah can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
