What is Bail?
Bail is a set amount of money that acts as insurance between the court and the defendant. The defendant can pay their bail in cash, but many use a bail bond service.
Bail can be expensive, and most people are financially unable to post bail by themselves. They will need to seek help from a bail agent, who will post the bail bond for them.
How do Bail Bonds Work?
A judge sets a bail amount. If the defendant cannot pay the bail amount on their own, they can get a bail bond. The bondsman usually takes 10% of the bail amount to post bail for the defendant.
The bail bondsman secures the rest of the bail amount in the form of collateral. If the defendant does not have enough collateral, the bail bond agency might have you ask relatives and friends to assist in covering the bail.
What Can You Use As Collateral?
Every bonding office has its own standards, but for the most part, they accept various forms of bail collateral. Some example of collateral include:
- Real estate
- Cars
- Credit cards
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal credit
- Bank accounts
What Happens After Your Release?
The bond company will return your collateral if the defendant appears for court. The bail bondsman keeps the 10% cash fee as profit.
If you fail to appear in court then you forfeit your collateral. The court will require the bond company to pay the remaining 90%. The bail bond agency will use the defendant’s collateral (house, jewelry, stocks, etc.) to pay the court the remaining bail amount.
Can You Leave The State Or The Country While On Bond?
If the court has given you direct instructions not to leave the state or country you must then get permission from the bail agent and the court before leaving. If you do leave you are subject to arrest.
What Happens If You Get Arrested While Out On Bond?
If you are arrested while out on bail the bond can be surrendered and your liability will be terminated. All arrests are treated separately, which means each arrest requires a new bond if the defendant wants to get out of jail before their new case is closed. The bond that was previously issued cannot be used to release the defendant from jail, and the initial bond remains active until the first case is complete.
Delta Bail Bonds
A bail agreement is a serious commitment. Once you create a lack of trust, it is hard to earn it back. It is better to be in constant communication with your bond agent to avoid a messy situation. If you or a loved one are in need of bail, contact Delta Bail Bonds. At Delta Bail Bonds, we’re more than a financial resource. We are here to help you and your family navigate your arrest and the bail system with ease. Don’t make a stressful time more difficult. Let us help! Give us a call and get out of jail fast!