How to Send Money to Kent County Jail, MI (MI)

At Kent County Jail, you can pay the full bond amount. In some cases, the court sets a 10% bond, meaning you only need to pay 10% of the total. Before you try to pay, confirm which type applies to your person's case.

Bond money is tied to court appearance. If the person shows up to court, 90% of a 10% bond (or the full cash bond) is refunded, minus any court fees or fines. If the person doesn't appear as required, the bond can be forfeited.

Kent County Jail accepts bond payments by cash, credit card, cashier's check, or money order. Cashier's checks and money orders must be made payable to "Kent County Sheriff's Office." Credit card payments come with added fees (listed as 8% to 20%), so expect the total to be higher than the bond amount itself. Personal checks are not accepted. You also cannot split a single payment across multiple methods, so plan to use one method per transaction.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Confirm whether you owe the full bond amount or whether a 10% bond was set
• ✓ Pick one payment method for the entire transaction (split payments are not allowed)
• ✓ Pay by cash, or by credit card (expect fees), or by cashier’s check or money order payable to “Kent County Sheriff’s Office”
• ✓ Do not use a personal check

1. Confirm the bond type and exact amount owed - Ask whether the case is set for full cash bond or a 10% bond, then verify the exact dollar amount you need to pay.
2. Ask how the refund will be handled if the person appears - Kent County’s policy is to refund 90% of a 10% bond (or the full cash bond) minus any court fees or fines, so make sure you understand what deductions may apply in your situation.

• ✓ Whether you can pay by cash for the transaction you are making
• ✓ Whether credit cards are currently accepted for bond payments, and what fee percentage will be charged (fees may apply, listed as 8% to 20%)
• ✓ The required payee name for cashier’s checks and money orders (“Kent County Sheriff’s Office”)
• ✓ Confirmation that personal checks are not accepted
• ✓ Confirmation that you must use one payment method per transaction (no split payments)

Before you head out, call the jail or sheriff's office to confirm a few things: where to go to pay, whether you can pay remotely, what hours bond payments are processed, and what information you need to bring so the payment gets credited correctly. These day-to-day logistics matter just as much as having the right payment method.