What Does It Mean to Post Bail?
Answering the phone and hearing that one of your loved ones is asking for help getting them out of jail is a phone call that no one wants to get. Your first questions may be “why,” but then you will almost immediately jump to asking what you can do to get them released as soon as possible. The best solution to getting out of jail is to post bond. This is something a lot of people aren’t familiar with, so you probably have several questions on how the process of posting bail works. The first step is to understand what it means to post bail.
What Does Posting Bail Mean for You?
Simply put posting bail means providing the courts with a bond in exchange for the persons release from jail until their appointed court date. So, posting bail allows you and your loved one to spend the time between the arrest and the court day together. In exchange for the posted bail, you or your loved one is released from jail so that you can return to as normal of a life as possible. Bail is basically a form of collateral that is put up for their release and guarantees that they will show up in court.
How Do Bail Bonds Work?
Bonds represent the full amount of cash for the bond; however, in order for the bail to be paid, you will need to pay approximately 10 percent of the total bail amount. The full amount is set by the court. Collateral is typically the full cash amount, vehicles or real estate; however, if you are unable to produce the amount required, you can use a professional bail bond agency to post the bail for you. If the defendant doesn’t show up for court, in most situations, the person who paid the initial fee will be responsible for paying the remainder of the money or additional fines may be added.
Almost everyone that has been arrested, booked and arraigned is eligible for bail and may be released when a bail bond has been posted. In some situations, people that commit a violent crime may not be eligible for bail if their judge deems them to be a hazard to the public or a flight risk. It’s important to keep in mind that the cost of a bail bond varies from case to case, but in most situations, 10 percent of the total bail amount is required.
It’s important that you talk with a professional bail bond agent to completely understand your responsibilities and the fees involved when posting a bond for a loved one. If you have questions or concerns about bail bonds or need to arrange bond posting for a loved one, contact Free At Last Bail Bonds.