---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-6-56. Bail recovery agents; requirements; registration.
collection: code
id: 17-6-56
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-6-56 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-6-56
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-6-56.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-6-56/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t17-(v15)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c04ccfe_0#page=414
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-6.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / BONDS AND RECOGNIZANCES / SURETIES / PROFESSIONAL BONDSMEN
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-6-56. Bail recovery agents; requirements; registration.

(a) As used in this Code section and Code Sections 17-6-57 and 17-6-58, the term ‘‘bail recovery agent’’ means any person who performs services or takes action for the purpose of apprehending the principal on a bail bond granted in this state or capturing a fugitive who has escaped from bail in this state for gratuity, benefit, or compensation.

(b) A bail recovery agent must be a United States citizen, 25 years of age or older, and must obtain a license pursuant to Code Section 16-11-129.

(c) Any sheriff of a county shall require any professional bondsman who is a resident of or doing business in the sheriff’s county to register his or her bail recovery agents in that county. The professional bondsman must submit to the sheriff, in a form and manner to be determined by the sheriff, a list of all bail recovery agents whose services may be used by such bondsman.

## History

Code 1981, § 17-6-56, enacted by Ga. L. 1999, p. 546, § 1.1.

## Law Reviews

For note on 1999 enactment of §§ 17-6-56 to 17-6-58, see 16 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 106 (1999).