Introduction
Getting arrested or having a family member or friend arrested can be a stressful event. The arrested individual may need to remain in jail for a lengthy expanse of time while awaiting trial. A judge will set a bail amount depending on the charges and the criminal history of the accused. A percentage of this bail amount is what needs to be paid by the accused to be released from jail while awaiting trial. A bail bondsman consigns bail bonds for the amount needed to pay the bail. The person paying the bail uses property or other assets as collateral for payment of the bail bonds. The paid bail is a promissory note that the accused will return to stand trial. If the accused doesn’t show up, the bail payer loses their collateral.
Step 1
Bail bonds are used when the accused lacks the funds for payment of the bail amount. Bail bonds offer a way for the arrested to pay the bail to the court to reclaim their freedom before trial. Bail is usually several hundred dollars for a misdemeanor and hundreds of thousands of dollars for a felony. Bail bonds are supplied by a bail bonds business as assurance to the court that the accused will appear for all trial proceedings.
Step 2
It normally takes about thirty minutes to apply for bail bonds. The next step is to have a co-signer go to the bail bonds company and pay the bail bonds fee with cash or a collateral loan. The accused are usually released from jail within one hour of posting their bail.
Step 3
The accused cannot use any co-signer for their bail bonds. The co-signer must show that they have the means to pay back the bail amount if the accused fails to show up for any of the court dates. The co-signer must also have a solid job history and have lived in the area for at least five years. Property owned by the co-signer can be used as collateral for the bail bonds amount. It is the belief of bail bonds companies that a person will show up for court if a family member is responsible for the bail.
Step 4
With the accurate paperwork and paid fees, bail bonds can be supplied hours after an arrest. About a week after the release from jail, the bail bonds company will ask the client to appear in their office to obtain personal information and take a photograph of the accused. The bail bond will be effective for the entire time it takes for the courts to find the accused, guilty or innocent. This process can be as little as a couple of months or more than a year. Regardless of the outcome of the trial or attendance of the accused, the bail bonds fee is nonrefundable.
Step 5
The amount needed for bail is usually too expensive for the average person. A bail bond company makes it possible for a defendant to post a bail amount that is higher than what they could afford to pay by themselves. This process allows the accused to leave prison and resume their normal activities while waiting for trial or arraignment.
Tips
- Do not do anything to get arrested for.
- Contact a family member or friend soon after the arrest.
- Hire a good attorney to represent you.
- Have someone visit a bail bonds company to pay bail, soon after the bail hearing.
- The co-signer may have to use property for collateral for the bail bond.
- Bail bond fees are nonrefundable.
- A bail bond can usually be purchased for 10% of the bail amount.
- Show up for all court dates.
- The full bail amount is forfeit if the accused doesn’t show up for trial.
- Be prepared to pay back the bail bond purchase price.
