2 Things You Should Know Before You Post Someone's Bail
Posted on: 31 July 2016
Bailing someone out of jail means you put forth a certain percentage of an overall fee in order to have the arrested person released until their court date. This money is paid to the court system via a bail bondsman and is used as security to ensure that a person will show up for court. If the bail (bond) money is paid and the person shows up for all court appearances, the bail money is returned. Many people will post bail for their friends, spouse, or children in order to bring them home sooner so they can secure a lawyer, get back to work, or return to their family life after arrest. Before you pay someone's initial bail, here are 2 things you should know about taking on the task.
You take on the total risk
A person's bail can vary based on the crime they were arrested for and whether their offense was a recurring one or not. If a person's bail is in the thousands or is an amount that cannot be paid entirely upfront, they turn to a bail bondsman to help them secure the bail money and create a 'guarantee' that the money needed for bail will be received by the court. This usually means paying at least 10% of the bail fee upfront. Keep in mind that if you bail someone out of jail and they do not return to court, you not only lose the money you have already paid into their bond, but you may have to take on the rest of the amount as well. Talk to a bail bondsman before joining any bail contract with them to see what your rights are before putting your money up for someone else.
Bondman fees are non-refundable
To use their services for a loan to bail someone out of jail, your bail bondsman will typically require a fee. This fee is not refundable and is a certain percentage of the entire bail bond. Remember this as even if you do recover the funds you have paid to the court to bail out your acquaintance, you will not recover any direct bail bondsman fees.
Before you bail someone out of jail using your own money or assistance from a bail bondsman, you should be aware of the task you are taking on. Always read all contracts you adhere to prior to signing and pay attention to total fee costs so you can have the person you bail you out pay you back accordingly. Contact a business, such as 24/7 Upper Marlboro Bail Bonds, for more information.
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