When a person is arrested, they are typically held until they are able to make bond or their court date occurs. The amount of the bond will be decided on by the judge. This amount will be determined by the severity of the charges against the person and their prior arrest record. Once the bail amount has been set, the defendant has several options for bonding out of jail until their trial.
• There is the option of using a bondsman to bail you out of jail. This is typically needed when the bond amount is high.
• Real property, such as a home or land can be put up in place of the bond amount.
• The full amount of the bond can be paid in cash.
In cases where there is a small bond amount, a friend or family member may be able to put up the money and get you out of jail. Unfortunately, not everyone has the cash or the property to be able to get out of jail so they end up needing to hire a bondsman for their Bail bond.
When a bondsman is hired, a percentage of the full bond amount must be paid. Each state has its own requirements for fee amounts. The bondsman is not allowed to charge more than this set percentage or they could lose their license.
Once the fee has been paid, the bondsman will sign the bail and allow the defendant to leave jail. The bondsman has the responsibility of making sure their client returns for every court appearance. Should a court date be missed, the bondsman is held liable for the full bail amount and may have the ability to use bounty hunters to bring their client into court.
Once the fee for a Bail bond has been paid, it is non-refundable. Even if the defendant shows for every court date and meets all obligations, the fee will not be refunded. This is the payment for services rendered during the bonding process.
If you or a loved one are in need of bonding services. This will allow you to learn more about the services offered so you can get a good idea of what to expect.
