Your Bail Bond Questions Answered

Many people get arrested every day, but in America, you are innocent until proven guilty. For this reason, in many cases, people who have been arrested can leave jail to await their hearing at home. If you've been arrested, bail makes it easier for you to prepare for your trial without losing your job or being unable to see your family. If you would like to know more about bail and bail bonds, keep reading.

How Much Does a Bail Bond Cost?

Some people don't need to pay anything to be released from jail. This is known as being released on your own recognizance, but it is typically reserved for first-time offenders of minor crimes. In most cases, the courts want a monetary guarantee you will return for your hearing instead of skipping town.

For this reason, most people need to post bail to be released from jail. The exact cost of bail depends on where you live and the type of crime. If you pay the amount yourself or with collateral, you will need to pay the full amount set by the courts to be released on bail.

Luckily, you get back the money you posted for bail after your hearing. However, many people still don't have enough cash on hand to pay their bail. For this reason, many people turn to bail bond agents. If you choose this path, the bail bond agent posts your total bail, paying it directly to the courts.

Of course, they will get that money back after your hearing, but that doesn't make the bail bond agent any money. Therefore, they typically charge a fee of 10 percent of the total bail amount. For example, if your bail is set to $10,000, the bail bond agent pays the full amount and is reimbursed the $10,000 from the courts after your hearing. However, you will have to pay $1,000 to the bail bond agent for their services.

Does a Bail Bond Need a Cosigner?

Naturally, the bail bond agent also wants a guarantee that you will attend your hearing. This often comes in the form of a cosigner. The cosigner agrees to take on the debt if the person being bailed out leaves town. For this reason, cosigners typically keep tabs on the person, so they can ensure they won't be left holding the bag.

However, you don't always need a cosigner. If you have plenty of collateral, you can use that as a guarantee instead. Cars, homes, and other assets can be used as collateral, and if you don't attend your hearing, the bail bond agent can take possession of the collateral to pay the debt.

What Happens if You Don't Follow Bail Conditions?

There are many rules to follow while you're out of jail on bail. Bail conditions can be imposed on anyone, even people who were allowed to leave on their own recognizance. Typically, anyone on bail needs to follow all laws, comply with travel restrictions, not have any weapons, etc. However, other conditions often depend on the severity of the crime and your personal criminal history.

For example, if you have a history of getting into fights while drunk, the courts will likely prohibit you from drinking while out on bail to reduce the risk of a future incident. Similarly, if you have a history of committing crimes with the same person, you will likely be prohibited from contacting them while on bail.

Getting arrested is scary, but you don't usually have to stay in jail. With a bail bond agent, you can easily post bail and get back home. As long as you attend your hearing, everything should go smoothly with the loan and your cosigner. If you would like to know more, contact us at Don's Bail Bonds today.