Bail bonds in Andover start with a fact that trips up a lot of families in east Wichita: Andover is in Butler County, not Sedgwick County. The city sits just across the county line on Kellogg, but its felony cases go to El Dorado, the Butler County seat, and not to the courthouse at 525 N Main in Wichita. City misdemeanors are heard at Andover Municipal Court, 1609 E Central. Knowing which system holds the case is the first step to getting someone out.
Case Bail Bonds is at 705 N Broadway in Wichita and lists Butler County among the Kansas counties it serves. Call (316) 900-1667 at any hour.
On this page
- Who handles an Andover arrest?
- Why the county line matters for bond
- How do bail bonds in Andover work?
- What if you are stopped in Wichita on an Andover or Butler County warrant?
- What if the arrest was in Wichita, not Andover?
- Checklist before you call a bondsman
- Frequently asked questions
- Call Case Bail Bonds
Who handles an Andover arrest?
The City of Andover lays it out on its criminal justice page.
| Type of case | Who handles it | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanors and juvenile traffic cases inside the city | Andover Municipal Court | 1609 E Central, Andover, KS 67002. 316-733-4510 |
| All felony and juvenile criminal cases | Butler County Attorney | 316-321-6999 |
The city describes the usual steps as arrest or citation, arraignment, a preliminary hearing for felonies only, trial and sentencing. It also notes that the court where a person must appear depends on where the offense happened and on the specific charges.
The Municipal Court office is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. Call the court for session days before you drive over, because a city court does not sit every day.
Why the county line matters for bond
Nearly everything on this site about the Sedgwick County Jail at 141 W Elm does not apply to an Andover case. Here is what changes and what stays the same.
| Sedgwick County case | Andover or Butler County case | |
|---|---|---|
| County jail | Wichita | El Dorado |
| District Court | 18th Judicial District, Wichita | Butler County District Court, El Dorado |
| Prosecutor on felonies | Sedgwick County District Attorney | Butler County Attorney |
| Rules for release on a signature | Set by the Sedgwick County Sheriff | Set by Butler County |
| Kansas bail statutes | The same | The same |
| Minimum bondsman premium | 10% | 10% |
One more rule decides who can help you. Under K.S.A. 22-2809b, a bondsman has to be authorized by the chief judge of each judicial district where the company writes bonds. A Wichita bondsman cannot post a bond in Butler County without that approval. Ask any company you call whether it is approved there. Our Butler County bail bonds page covers the county in more detail.
How do bail bonds in Andover work?
The Kansas statutes are the same on both sides of the county line.
- Arrest or citation. Many city misdemeanors and traffic cases start with a citation and a court date, with no booking at all.
- Booking. When a person is taken into custody, ask the Andover Police Department or the Butler County Sheriff where they are being held.
- Bond is set. On a city charge, K.S.A. 12-4213 requires bond to be set within 18 hours of custody. A person held 48 hours after a warrantless city arrest with no first appearance must be released on personal recognizance.
- Bond is posted in one of three ways, below.
- Court. The paperwork lists the date and whether it is the Municipal Court or the District Court.
3 ways to post bond
| Way | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Signature or personal recognizance | No money | Depends on the charge, the person’s record and local rules |
| Cash | The full bond | Refunded after the case if every court date is kept, minus costs and fines |
| Surety bond through a bondsman | At least 10% of the bond | At least half of that is due before posting |
| Bond | Minimum premium | Minimum due before posting |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | $50 | $25 |
| $1,000 | $100 | $50 |
| $2,500 | $250 | $125 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 | $500 |
Those minimums come from K.S.A. 22-2809b and apply statewide. On a charge that would be a person offense, such as battery, K.S.A. 12-4301 puts a no contact condition of at least 72 hours on the bond.
What if you are stopped in Wichita on an Andover or Butler County warrant?
This is a common situation, because many Andover residents work, shop and drive in Wichita. A Kansas warrant can be served anywhere in the state. If Wichita Police run your name on Kellogg or at Towne East and a Butler County warrant comes back, you are booked at the Sedgwick County Jail on a hold.
Kansas law gives you an option. Under K.S.A. 22-2901, a person arrested on an arrest warrant from another county can ask to be taken before the nearest judge. That judge can release you on a bond no lower than the amount on the warrant, with an order to appear in the other county within 14 days. A bench warrant for a missed court date works differently and sends you back to the judge who issued it.
We cover both in out of county warrants in Kansas and bench warrant vs arrest warrant. If you already know about the warrant, a planned surrender is the better path. See walk through bonds in Wichita.
What if the arrest was in Wichita, not Andover?
Then where you live does not decide the court. An Andover resident arrested for DUI on Rock Road is a Wichita or Sedgwick County case, booked at 141 W Elm. Living in Butler County helps in one way: the Sedgwick County Sheriff counts Butler County as part of the metro area for release on your own recognizance. See OR bond in Sedgwick County.
Charge specific guides: DUI bail bonds in Wichita, domestic violence bail bonds in Wichita and felony bail bonds in Wichita.
Checklist before you call a bondsman
- Full name and date of birth of the person arrested
- Which agency made the arrest: Andover Police, the Butler County Sheriff, the Highway Patrol or a Wichita agency
- Where the person is being held
- The charge and the bond amount, if you have them
- Whether the paperwork says Municipal Court or District Court
With those five answers we can tell you in a few minutes what the bond will cost and how fast it can be posted.
Frequently asked questions
Is Andover in Sedgwick County or Butler County?
Butler County. Andover’s felony cases are handled by the Butler County Attorney, and the county seat is El Dorado.
Where is Andover Municipal Court?
1609 E Central, Andover, KS 67002. The phone number is 316-733-4510, and the office is open weekdays from 8 am to 4:30 pm.
Can a Wichita bondsman post bond on an Andover case?
Only a bondsman authorized in that judicial district can. Case Bail Bonds lists Butler County in its service area.
How far is El Dorado from Wichita?
About 30 miles northeast.
Does an Andover city ticket require a bond?
Often not. Many citations only require you to appear or pay by the date on the ticket. Missing that date is what leads to a warrant.
Call Case Bail Bonds
We are a family owned company run by Tyson and Rachel Case. Call (316) 900-1667, 24 hours a day, or visit 705 N Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214.
Sources
- City of Andover, criminal justice system
- City of Andover, Municipal Court directory
- K.S.A. 22-2901, appearance before the magistrate, Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- K.S.A. 12-4213, persons under arrest in municipal cases
- K.S.A. 22-2809b, compensated sureties
Court schedules change. Confirm dates with the court. This article is general information, not legal advice.
