Criminal Defense Attorney Preston Edwards explains that a bond is a monetary guarantee from you given to the State to ensure that you will show up to your court proceedings. Once you have shown up to all your court proceedings, your bond is returned. Should you decide to do so, you can pay any court costs or fees out of your bond before it is repaid to you. However, if you do not show up to your court proceedings, your bond could be forfeited and distributed to various State agencies. So, it is very important that if you have a bond, you show up to court and take care of your affairs.