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AO 98

Appearance Bond

Federal · United States Courts · Effective December 1, 2011

This form is an Appearance Bond that a defendant signs to agree to follow all court orders. It details the type of bond—whether it is personal, unsecured, or secured—and what happens if the bond is forfeited or released.

Open the official PDFfrom United States Courts

Where this fits in a case

Start a case

Stage: Start a case

This form is used in a federal criminal case when a defendant is required to post a bond to appear in court.

Either party may file.

Common questions

What is this form for?
This form is an Appearance Bond where the defendant agrees to follow all court orders. It outlines the terms of the bond and what happens if the defendant does not follow the rules.
Who signs this form?
The defendant and any sureties or property owners must sign this form. The court clerk and judge also sign it.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect December 1, 2011.

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