Bail Bonds: Common Questions You Need to Ask a Bond Company
You may never want to need a bail bond company but you may find it necessary one day. If that day ever does arrive, it is important to know about how a bail bond company works. The following are some things you need to know in the event you need to utilize a bail bond company in the future.
How Much Does a Bail Bond Company Charge?
Each state has mandated charges that bail bond companies must charge. In California, you will pay ten percent of the total bail amount. If you find a company is charging less than this amount, be wary. This can be a sign the company is not reputable or is not operating legally.
When Can the Person Get Released from Jail?
The timeframe of release depends on a variety of factors. The timing can be unpredictable much of the time. The bail bond company is only able to process bail paperwork when they receive it. Most experienced bond companies can provide you with an accurate timeframe for release based on previous experience. Bear in mind the release process can be slow, so you must be patient.
How Does the Bail Process Work?
Once you contact the bail bond company, the bondsman collects some basic information about the situation. They will assess the risk factor of the bond. Some risk factors include where the person is incarcerated, the type of charges levied against the person, how long he or she has lived at their current address, and whether the person is employed.
You will have to make payment arrangements and finalize the bail bond documentation. The bail bond application and the indemnity agreement are included in these documents. Once this process is complete, the bail bond company will post the bail for the person to be released.
Is the Bail Bond Company Licensed?
A bail bond company receives a license through the department of insurance in the state of California. A bail bond company is the only entity legally allowed to negotiate the bond. You may want to ask a potential bail bond company if it is properly licensed. You can even ask to see the necessary licensing and identification of the bail agent before you make any payments.
Where Is the Bail Bond Company Located?
In some instances, the bondsman does not work in the same state you live in. This means you will likely have to pay more for the posting fee. This is the fee the bondsman must pay to post the bail. To make this process faster and less expensive, either work with a bond company in the same state or find a person who lives closer to the person in jail.
What Is an Indemnitor?
An indemnitor is the person who posts bail and gets a person out of jail. This person also accepts total responsibility for the person who is bonded out of jail. He or she must ensure the bonded individual appears on their assigned court date. If the bonded person does not appear in court, the indemnitor has to pay the total bail.
What Happens if the Person Does Not Appear in Court?
The answer to this question largely depends on the individual bond company. Generally, a warrant may be issued for the person's arrest. They will then be listed as a fugitive. The bond company will attempt to locate the person by checking his or her residence, visiting his or her workplace, and checking with the references listed in their documentation.
If the person cannot be located, the bond company may hire a bounty hunter to locate the person.
If you need more information about the bail bond process, please contact us at Bail Busters today.
