When You're Stuck In Jail: How You Can Afford Bail Using A Bail Bond Service

Law Blog

If you have been charged with a crime and you are waiting in jail because you can't afford bail, you have choices. When you aren't able to come up with the cash on your own, you can use a bail bond service that will pay your bail for a fee. In general, the fee is 10% of your total bail, and you do not get the 10% back once your case is settled. Whether you have cash to pay the 10% or you need to put up collateral to cover the cost, you can work with a bond company to get out of jail while you wait for your trial to begin.

Find Collateral to Cover Your Bail Bond Fee

If your bail is set at $10,000, you will need to come up with $1,000 to pay the bond company. The bond company will then pay the court to secure your release. In order to find the collateral to cover your bail bond fee, you may have to ask friends and family for cash. Some people have property that they put up as collateral, such as a vehicle or an expensive piece of electronics. It is also possible to use a home as collateral, but family members may be hesitant to help if this isn't your first time in trouble. 

What Happens If You Miss Your Court Date

The point of bail is to ensure that you will come to court at your next court date. If you skip out on your court hearing, the bail bond company is responsible for bringing you into court. If you don't show up, the bond company will be out the bail money they paid to the court. The bail bond company has every right to apprehend you and bring you to the authorities in order to get you back into court. If you are out on bail and you used a bail bond company, you should get to your court date by any means you can.

If this isn't your first time in trouble, a bail bond company may require you to have solid collateral that they can collect on if you take off. For example, if the company pays the court $10,000 and you used your mom's house as collateral, the bail bond company can put a lien on your mother's house for $10,000 if you don't show up for court. To avoid family conflict and future legal troubles, it's important to get to court for all of your scheduled dates.

For more information, contact local professionals like Ron's Bonds Co.

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9 September 2016

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