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If you have been arrested and put in jail, it may be quite some time before your court hearing. In the interim period, you generally have two options. You will either remain in custody until your trial date, which could be weeks or even months. Or alternatively, you can pay the set bail amount and be released.
If you want to spend the time before your trial with your loved ones, paying bail is the preferable option. But it can be difficult to understand your rights, come up with the bail amount, and deal with all the paperwork. This is where a bail bondsman can help you.
Why Use a Bail Bondsman?
Although you may be able to come up with the bail yourself, enlisting the help of a bail bondsman makes everything easier and speeds up the process. They will get you out of jail far more quickly, and they will help you to save a great deal of money on your bond.
An experienced bail bonds company will know how to deal with all the complicated legal paperwork, so you don’t have to worry about making mistakes if you’re unfamiliar.
How Bail Bonds Work
After you have been arrested, the judge will set a bail amount for you. This is the amount that you have to pay in order to be released from jail prior to your court date. If you are unable to pay this sum, you will remain in custody. The bail serves as a kind of deposit, to deter the accused from running. If you attend your hearing, you will receive the cash back. If not, the court will keep it.
The exact amount will depend on a number of factors, including the perceived seriousness of the crime, your legal history, and whether or not you are deemed to be a flight risk. In some cases, the accused is able to come up with the cash and spend time with their loved ones. But often, the figure may be set so high it would be impossible to come up with it on their own.
This is where bail bonds come in. A bail bond is a type of surety provided by a bail bondsman or bail bond agent. This means the bail bondsman will pay the cost of your bail, and you only need to pay the bail bondsman a percentage of the total amount, usually around 10%. Once you attend your trial, the court will pay back the bail bondsman the full amount, so you only pay a fraction of the original bail cost.
What Bail Bondsmen Do
A bail bondsman is a person or firm who will act as a surety on your behalf when you need to post bail. As well as paying the court the full sum, they will also deal with the legal and administrative processes around posting paul. They help you to fill out the necessary forms and speed up the process significantly, allowing you to spend more time with your family while you await a trial.
Understanding the Role of a Bondsman
The role of a bail bondsman is best understood as a kind of guarantee between the accused and the court. The bail bondsman effectively vouches for you, by paying your bail to the court in full. They may secure an asset, such as a car, as collateral in case you do not show up for your court date and the bail is retained.
The Functions of a Bail Bondsman
A bail bondsman does more than just pay your bail. They are an incredibly useful asset that can make the whole process much easier for you and your loved ones. Yes, they will cover the cost of your bail, but they will also help you with a range of other legal and administrative duties. There can often be a great deal of paperwork and technical legal jargon for you to handle. A bail bondsman will have a wealth of experience in these situations, and will know the particular legalities of your case and the state in which you live. They will liaise with the judge and any other relevant parties, and enable you to speed up the entire process. Since they are covering the cost of bail, they will also ensure that you attend all necessary hearings in order to ensure that the bail is returned.
Demystifying the Job of a Bailbondsman
Do you have to use a bail bondsman? Many people are unsure about this, as you have multiple options in the event that you are arrested. If you have plenty of capital avail;able, you may be able to simply pay the cost of your bail outright. However, for many people this can be a huge amount to come up with. A bail bondsman may not be essential, but it’s the easiest way for you to be released from jail and spend time with your family.
Explaining the Workings of a Bail Bondsman
A bail bondsman creates an agreement, known as a bail bond, that the accused party will either appear in court or pay a set amount of bail. The bail bondsman co-signs this agreement, and will charge the accused a small percentage of the total amount as their fee. In order to ensure that the accused will appear in court or be able to pay the fee, they may require some collateral, such as a car or valuable asset, to be held. They may also require a statement of creditworthiness.
The Purpose of Bail Bonds
Once the bail bond has been signed, you will be released from jail until the time of your court hearing. The bail bond has served as a guarantee that you will show up to court as required. It allows you to spend time with your loved ones rather than being in isolation, and continue with your life as best you can while you await the results of your hearing.
If you, or a loved one, has been arrested, a bail bondsman can make the entire process a great deal easier. Get in touch with Future Bail Bonds for more information.