Legal Question in Criminal Law in Washington

Re: subject ( putting house up as collateral )

Let your conscience guide you. If you have to ask this question, you should seriously consider declining to post bond. If he willfully fails to appear, you face losing your house (or value of bond).

Your bond is not forfeitable if your friend is detained in Lewis County and notice is given to King County prosecutor and court. Typically, the bond is forfeited only if he willfully fails to appear in King county proceedings. When this happens, the court must notify you within 30 days that your bond will be forfeited. You can get an extension for up to 60 days by posting more money and try to return the fugitive during that time. A party whose bond is forfeited and is directly responsible for returning the fugitive within 12 months recovers the amount of the bond less all costs incurred by the court in getting the person back.

The relevant statutes can be found in RCW 10.19.