Bail Bond FAQs: What You Need To Know
Technically speaking, you don’t need to work with a bail bondsman to post bail. However, most people won’t be able to afford bail without the assistance of a bondsman. When you work with a bondsman, you won’t have to cover the full cost of bail on your own. You’ll be able to pay a percentage of the bondsman, and they’ll cover the rest.
How Can I Obtain A Bail Bond?
There are several different ways to obtain Phoenix Bail Bonding. If you have the full amount that is owed, you can pay cash at the jail or courthouse. You may also be able to use property to cover the cost of bail.
If none of these things is an option for you, your best bet is to work with a bondsman. You’ll be able to pay them a percentage of the total bond. They’ll provide you with a cashier’s check that will cover the rest of the costs.
How Is The Bail Amount Determined?
After a person is arrested, their bail amount will be set by a judge. The judge will consider many factors to decide what the bail should be.
Some of the things the judge will look at will include the crime, the defendant’s criminal history, and the defendant’s living situation. If a defendant is seen as a significant flight risk, they may not be offered bail at all.
What Should I Know Before Contacting The Bondsman?
Before you contact a bondsman, you’ll want to get a few things figured out. You’ll have to figure out what jail the person you’re bailing out is currently incarcerated. You’ll also need to make sure you know the person’s full name and booking number.
In addition to all of that, you’ll need to know how much the bail is. If you’re not sure how much the bail will be, provide all the other information to the bondsman. They’ll be able to contact the jail and find out what the bond requirements are.
How Much Does It Cost To Work With A Bondsman?
The rate that you’ll have to pay a bondsman depends on your location. In some states, the premium may be 8% of the total bond. In other states, the premium might be around 10%.
Because premium rates are regulated, you’ll find that most bondsmen charge the same necessary rates. With that said, if you’re hoping to find cheap bail bonds, you may be able to obtain a few low-cost options.
What Kind Of Collateral Is Accepted?
Different bond offices accept different types of collateral. Types of collateral that bondsmen will consider include real estate, vehicles, jewelry, stocks, and bonds. Bondsmen may also be willing to use your personal credit as collateral.
No matter what you have to offer, you should be able to find a bondsman that is willing to work with you. Research your options for posting bonds and find a bondsman that will accept a type of collateral that you can offer.
When Will The Defendant Be Released From Jail?
The bail agent will post bail as soon as the premium is paid and collateral is signed over. Once that is complete, you will have to wait for the defendant to be processed. Typically, this doesn’t take any longer than a few hours.
Will I Get My Premium Back After The Case Is Over?
When a case has concluded, the bond will be returned to the bondsman. Because you’ll be paying your premium to the bondsman and not the courts, you won’t be getting any money back. The fee that you pay to the bondsman is non-refundable.
When you work with a bondsman, you can get someone released from custody even if you can’t afford to post bail in full. The bondsman is willing to provide the required funds in exchange for your fee. If you pay a fee to a bondsman, you need to be prepared to kiss that money goodbye. You won’t be getting your cash back.
What Happens If The Defendant Misses Their Court Date?
If you suspect that the person you bailed out won’t be making their court date, you’ll want to get in touch with your bondsman as soon as possible. They’ll help you to explore your options.
In most states, the bond can still be recovered for after a period of time. If you turn in the accused before this time limit is up, the bond will not be lost. If the accused is not turned in before the time is up, you may lose out on the collateral that you offered to the bondsman.
In some states, you can hire a fugitive recovery agent to track down someone that has skipped out on their bond. For a fee, the person will track down the accused and return them to custody.
What Happens If The Defendant Is Guilty?
If you agree to bail someone out of jail, it doesn’t matter if they are guilty or innocent. As long as you show up to court at the designated time, their case will have no bearing on the bond.
Posting bail doesn’t have anything to do with a person’s guilt or innocence. Bail just allows someone to leave jail while they await trial. If you suspect that someone is guilty, but are confident that they will show up to all of their court dates, you can bail them out without issue.
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t agree to bail someone out of jail unless you’re confident that they’ll show up for their court dates. When you decide to post bail for someone, you’re taking responsibility for them. You shouldn’t do that unless you’re sure you’re willing to deal with any potential consequences.
Unless you have large quantities of cash on hand, you’re probably going to have to work with a bail bondsman. Now that you have a better understanding of bondsman and what they do, you can decide what your next step should be.