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If you are looking to get a loved one out of jail after their arrest in the State of California, there are several questions that you need to answer. Knowing how to calculate a bail bond is arguably one of the most important issues to consider because it will determine how much money you have to pay to secure your loved one’s freedom.
Thanks to online bail bonds, it is possible to get your loved one out of custody within a matter of hours, which will save them from spending time behind bars between now and their trial date. Once they have returned to civilian life, they can begin to prepare their defense for court. Before that happens, though, you will need to pay their bail bond premium. This guide will help you understand how much it will be.
How much is it to post bail in California?
In the State of California, judges set the bail figure depending on the Penal Code that has been violated. While bail for some misdemeanors and felonies are as low as $5,000-$10,000, the bail figure for most crimes is upwards of $20,000. For major crimes, though, the bail figure could be in excess of $1,000,000.
In addition to the main charges, enhancements may be added due to issues like gang affiliation, probation or parole violations, strikes and past criminal history. This can bump up the costs by thousands of dollars. Other factors that could affect the price include unemployment, not having local ties, and a past record of skipping court dates.
The figures are set high to prevent the risk of defendants taking flight or ignoring their bail conditions. Unfortunately, this does mean that posting cash bail is impossible for most defendants. When you use bail bond services, however, an agent will post bail on your behalf in exchange for a small upfront fee known as a premium. It allows you to secure your loved one’s freedom at a fraction of the costs.
How to calculate a bail bond premium in California
The benefits of using a bail bond service in the State of California are clear and plentiful, especially when you don't have access to the funds needed to post the cash bail fee. Before using the service, though, it is important to know how much it will cost.
In the State of California, bail bond fees are set to 10% of the cash bail figure, including enhancements. Therefore, it should be easy to calculate the cost of your bail bond. If the courts have set the fee to $25,000, the bail bond will cost $2,500. If the cash bail is $100,000, the bail bond is $10,000.
Crucially, when using Future Bail Bonds, it is very unlikely that you will need to put down any form of collateral or undergo credit checks. Aside from making the process more convenient, it enables us to get your loved one out of jail in the fastest time.
Getting a cheaper bail bond service
While premiums normally equate to 10% of the overall bail fee, it may be possible to secure a cheaper service. In most cases we can offer up to 30% off for qualified union members, military and their families, homeowners, government employees and AARP members.
Depending on personal circumstances, it may also be possible to secure discounted services like 8% bail bond plans. At Future Bail Bonds, we guarantee to beat any legitimate price offered by bail bonds companies in the Golden State. Calling our experts for a quick consultation will enable you to discover the cheapest and best services available.
Bail bond repayment plans
Even when using a bail bond service, you will still need to find a four, five or six-figure fee. If this is not viable, you can turn your attention to bond bail financing plans, which often allow you to pay just a few hundred dollars today before agreeing a repayment plan over the months to come. When posting bail on behalf of a loved one, this can be a great option as you can get the defendant to take on the financial responsibilities after the small down payment.
Future Bail Bonds can offer 0% financing agreements too. So, when learning how to calculate a bail bond charge, you will not need to worry about interest charges or other hidden fees. Meanwhile, bail bonds can be used to post bail on behalf of defendants who are incarcerated at any jail in the State of California.
What are the alternative options
When a loved one is incarcerated in a Californian jail, bail bonds aren’t the only option. You could decide not to post bail and leave your loved one in custody until their trial date. While defendants usually have the right to a court date within 45 days, this is still a long time to be left in jail - especially as it can lead to job losses, family problems, and falling behind on bills as well as reputational damage.
Another option is to pay the cash bond on behalf of your loved one. The advantage of this is that the money, which is held in escrow, will be returned to you at the end of the legal process. The downside, however, is that the funds will be surrendered if your loved one breaks their bail conditions. The financial risk is not something many people are prepared to take, even if they do have the funds available.
Arrange a bail bond consultation now
When you need to get your loved one out of jail, a fast response is vital. By now, you should have a good idea of how to calculate a bail bond fee. However, our experts at Future Bail Bonds can provide a full consultation to confirm that figure, discuss repayment options, and help you complete the application process in just a few minutes. Following this, we can contact the courts to ensure that the defendant is released in the quickest possible time.
Take charge of the situation by calling us now. Our offices are open 24/7.