How to manage bond records

Bonds in eCourtDate is a record list under **Cases** where your agency tracks a bond number, the related case number, the collateral type, and a status. This article covers creating, finding, editing, archiving, and exporting those records.

### Overview

- **What it does:** Stores bond records with four editable fields (**Bond Number**, **Case Number**, **Collateral Type**, and **Status**) and lists them alongside the linked client.
- **Why it matters:** Keeps bond references searchable next to your cases, warrants, and clients instead of in a separate spreadsheet.
- **Who uses it:** Court clerks, pretrial staff, and administrators who record bonds tied to cases.
- **Expected outcomes:** A searchable, sortable bonds list you can export to CSV or print, with an audit trail on every record.

### Prerequisites

- An eCourtDate account that can reach **Cases** in the main navigation
- The **Bonds** tab visible on the **Cases** tab strip (navigation items can be hidden per account)
- The bond number and case number you plan to record
- The wording your agency uses for collateral type and status, because both are free text fields

### How-To Steps

#### Create a bond

1. Go to **Cases** > **Bonds**.
2. Enter the **Bond Number** in the **Create Bond** card.
3. Enter the **Case Number**.
4. Enter the **Collateral Type**.
5. Enter the **Status**.
6. Click **Create**.

#### Find a bond

1. Go to **Cases** > **Bonds**.
2. Enter your search text in the **Search** field of the **Search Bonds** card.
3. Click **Search**.
4. Select **Archived** or **Trashed** to reload the list with those records instead of active bonds. You can select only one of the two, and the list refreshes as soon as you select a checkbox.
5. Click a column heading such as **Bond Number** or **Updated** to sort the list.
6. Click **Load more** to add the next set of records to the list.

#### Edit a bond

1. Click the edit button in the first column of the bonds list.
2. Change **Bond Number**, **Case Number**, **Collateral Type**, or **Status** in the **Edit Bond** card.
3. Click **Save**.
4. Click **Close** to return to the bonds list.

#### Archive, trash, or restore a bond

1. Open the bond from the bonds list.
2. Click **Tools**.
3. Click **Archive** to keep the record out of the default list, or click **Trash** to remove it.
4. Click **Tools** > **Restore** on an archived or trashed bond to bring it back.

To act on several bonds at once, select their checkboxes in the bonds list, then click **Archive** or **Trash**. **Restore** replaces those two buttons while you are viewing archived or trashed bonds. Click **Confirm** to finish.

#### Export or print bonds

1. Click **CSV** in the bonds list header to download the current results as a CSV file.
2. Click **PDF** to open your browser print dialog for the list.
3. Click **PDF** on an open bond to print that single record.

### What to Expect

A new bond appears at the top of the list right away and a "Bond created" alert confirms the save. Saving an edit shows "Bond updated". The list header counts the records you have loaded against the total, for example "10 of 42 Bonds", and shows "No Bonds found." when nothing matches. Archiving or trashing a bond adds a banner to its edit page ("Bond was archived on" or "Bond was trashed on") with the date.

The **Audit Logs** card on the edit page records **Created By**, **Updated By**, **Created**, and **Updated**, and links to the source upload when the bond came from one. When a bond is already linked to a client, the list shows that client in the **Client** column and the edit page shows a client card with a **View Client** button.

### Best Practices

- Agree on collateral type and status wording before you enter bonds, because both fields accept free text and nothing checks the spelling.
- Enter the **Case Number** on every bond. An event with the same case number lists its bonds on the event record, so the two only connect when the numbers match.
- Archive bonds you may need later instead of trashing them.
- Click **Updated** to sort by the last change, then click it again to flip between oldest and newest first.
- Narrow the list with **Search** before you export, because a very large export returns only the first batch of records.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can I record a bond amount, conditions, or bail agent details?**

A: No. A bond record has four editable fields: **Bond Number**, **Case Number**, **Collateral Type**, and **Status**. There is no amount, condition, payment, or bail agent field.

**Q: How do I link a bond to a client?**

A: Not from the bond screens. Neither the **Create Bond** nor the **Edit Bond** form has a client field. When a bond already carries a client, the list shows that client in the **Client** column and the edit page shows the client card.

**Q: Is Status a fixed list of options?**

A: No. **Status** is a free text field on both the **Create Bond** and **Edit Bond** forms, so enter the wording your agency uses.

**Q: Can I attach documents to a bond?**

A: No. The bond edit page has no upload or documents section. Keep bond paperwork with the related client record, which has its own **Documents** tab.

**Q: What happens to a bond I trash?**

A: It leaves the default bonds list and its edit page shows a trashed banner with the date. Select **Trashed** in the **Search Bonds** card to find it again, then click **Tools** > **Restore**.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** The bonds list shows no records.

**Symptoms:** The list area displays "No Bonds found." even though your agency has bonds.

**Solution:**

1. Clear the **Search** field and click **Search**.
2. Clear the **Archived** and **Trashed** checkboxes, because either one limits the list to those records only.
3. Click **Search** again.

**Issue:** The **Edit Bond** form will not save.

**Symptoms:** Clicking **Save** does nothing and the browser highlights **Bond Number**.

**Solution:**

1. Enter a value in **Bond Number**, which is required on the **Edit Bond** form.
2. Click **Save**.

**Issue:** A CSV export holds fewer bonds than the list total.

**Symptoms:** After you click **CSV**, an alert reads "Exported the first ... records. Narrow the filters for the rest."

**Solution:**

1. Enter search text in the **Search** field to narrow the results.
2. Click **Search**.
3. Click **CSV** again.

> **Important:** If you continue to experience issues after following these troubleshooting steps, sign in to eCourtDate, click the help button in the bottom right corner of the screen, and select **New support ticket**.

### Related Articles

- [How to Manage Cases](/how-to-manage-cases)
- [How to manage warrants](/how-to-manage-warrants)
- [How to manage attorneys](/how-to-manage-attorneys)
- [How to Manage Clients](/how-to-manage-clients)