Nobody wants to get that call from a loved one telling you that they have been arrested. If you find yourself having to bail someone out of jail, the whole process can seem confusing; especially if it is your first time. In this post, we will walk you through the steps that you should take in the event that you get that dreaded phone call.
Figure Out the Bail Amount
It is easy to become overwhelmed and perhaps emotional when you receive a call from a loved one that they are in jail. A necessary step, however, is to find out if they have been granted bail and if so, how much. If your loved one is calling before they have had their arraignment, you will have to wait until they go to a judge before you can find out the bail amount. If they have already had their arraignment make sure to ask for the bail amount specifically as you will need this information when you contact a bail bondsman.
Bail Someone Out of Jail With an Experienced Bail Bondsman
Once you figure out how much bail is owed, you can call an experienced bail bondsman. Once you relay all of the necessary information to bail bondsman, he will lay out your options for you. The most common option is the surety bond. It is possible to bail someone out of jail with your own money, but as bail amounts start to get into the thousands of dollars, this option may not be viable.
Pay the Bail Bond Premium
When you receive your bail bond, you will have to pay a premium. This is usually around ten percent of the bail amount. So if you receive a bond for a bail amount of $1000, your premium will be around $100. This premium is not returned to you as it is the price for the bail bondsman services. You may also have to provide some sort of bail bond collateral for security purposes. This can be anything of value such as real estate, automobiles, jewelry, or even firearms.
Pick Up Your Loved One
Once all of the paperwork is completed and you receive word that your loved one will be released, the only thing left to do is go pick them up. It is important to remember that your loved one is still out on bail, and you are financially responsible for them, so you need to make sure that they attend their court date. If they fail to attend, the bail money is forfeited and it will be you that loses money.
Get Your Loved One Back Home with Delta Bail
We know that having to bail someone out of jail can be a stressful situation. The professionals at Delta Bail want to eliminate that stress and get your loved one back home as fast as possible. Whether a misdemeanor or felony, we strive to make the bail bond process pain-free so you can focus on the important things. Give us a call or fill out our online form so you can get your loved one out of jail today.