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8 Essential Considerations For The Right Bail Bonds Company

No one wants to ever go to jail or even have to deal with the criminal justice system any more than necessary. But when you least expect it, you or a loved one gets arrested, and you need to find a way to keep out of prison. The good thing is that in many cases, you are not required to stay in jail to await your trial. You can post bail and remain free. However, the bail can cost quite a bit.

What is a Bail Bond?

In simple terms, a bail bond is a financial guarantee to the court. It's posted by a contracted bail bondsman, usually for a premium with signatures and/or collateral, or even by cash in full to the court. This ensures that the defendant will be present at all court dates until the case is solved.

How Bail Bonds are Paid

Most states allow the defendant (or any other person) to deposit the bail in full to the court directly, or through a bail bondsman for greater advocacy and protection. It's important to understand that there are many methods for making these payments, including Western Union, Cash, Bank Transfers, etc., though these methods vary from state to state.

When you post bail directly to the court, it must be the full amount, and you may also need to pay for some unnecessary costs. With a bail bondsman, you only have to pay a certain premium and the signatures or collateral needed, which can ideally guarantee the financial obligation of the bond for the court through a security agent. The amount of court fees, bail, jail fees, and other fees charged to the defendant during the entire length of the case will be deducted from the amount paid.

If the jail or court says the defendant will be refunded the bail when the case is complete, they mean that you will receive any difference after all the fees incurred during the trial are paid in full. If there isn't any difference, then you won't get any refund. Be certain that you know the immediate charges that come out from the money you post, and that you are kept updated as the jail and court deduct the fees, expenses, and any fines related to your case.

Once you post bail, you cannot cancel your payment. In some rare instances where the defendant is dismissed of all the charges completely, it might be different, but never guaranteed. A bondsman is the only guarantee for both the bond, and the returning of any collateral used if there's any. The bondsman also works with the defendant as the advocate, and helps to keep the bond secure, and make sure the defendant appears in court and is always updated of the current court information. The bondsman is also able to clear any other matters when they arise.

Choosing a Bail Bonds Company

Bail bonds are serious business, some people can comfortably afford them, but for everyone else, the ideal way is to seek a bail bondsman who can post a surety bond on your behalf. This process is rather simple, though you need to pay a fee for the bail agent to post your bond, so that you get out of jail. All you need to do at this point is to show up for the court dates, which is easy since the bondsman keeps you updated on exactly what's going on with your case.

Nonetheless, not all bail bond companies are created equal. In fact, when you really look into it, some of them are downright sketchy. So, if you or your loved one has been arrested and you are looking for a bail bondsman, then you want to make sure you get the real deal. Before you spend any of your cash, here are some things to consider when choosing a bail bonds company.

1. Charges

When using the services of a company, you will be typically charged 10% of the bail amount for them to post bail for you. This means that you need to make a small payment first, though you won't have to pay large sums on the spot. This way, you can leave jail from the small payment you made. It's good to do some research on the companies that offer a good deal.

However, keep in mind that bail bonds are significantly less expensive than posting bail yourself. Nonetheless, the fees the bail bonds companies charge are set by law. Since you're not looking for a used car, someone who claims to be offering you a good deal that the competition can't match is probably lying to you. Look elsewhere.

2. Bail Amount

There are some cases where it's better not to release the person until their arraigned hearing. At that instance, the lawyer can make an effort to convince the judge to lower the bail amount. This is important because if the judge releases the person on his recognizance, maybe you won't have to pay any bail costs. If the judge sets an amount, the court will often give you a list of recommended bail bonds companies. Just as with the attorney-referred companies, you can be sure that they are reputable and work with the court all the time. In many cases, it's possible to convince the judge that a lower amount won't do any harm.

3. Bonds Referred by Attorneys

Whenever companies work with defense attorneys, their quality work earns them more reputation. You can therefore look for bail bonds that your defense attorney recommends. In most cases, the price reduces to 8%, saving you some cash. Since a criminal defense attorney will be vital for your trial, why not hire them before you post bail? This way, you will be assured that you get a reputable firm and avoid the sketchy companies interested in just getting your money.

4. Agencies are a Good Option Too

Consider hiring an agency to handle your bail bond and your case. They keep your confidential information safe, and can save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to posting your bonds. Agencies are also well known by court clerks and attorneys, and will experience little trouble when dealing with your case. Since they are smaller in size compared to bail bond companies, they are more flexible, meaning their availability and adaptability is swifter.

5. Duty Officers

It's very helpful to get friendly or to have your attorney friendly with the court and detention officers. Since they do deal with bail bonds companies all the time, they probably know the good ones. These officers can also suggest a suitable, lower bail amount, and help you to get through the tricky and awkward situations. With these officers on your side, you can really benefit from their advice, and help you make correct decisions along the way.

6. Customer Reviews

When choosing a bail bonds company, it's always important to look for reviews from previous customers online. Most of the companies post reviews about them on their websites, but you can do some research to read what others say on social media and other platforms. Keep in mind that these are some of the best recommendations you can find, since they come from people who came from, or are in the same situation as you are.

7. Ask to See the License

Not anyone can become a bail bondsman. The person and the company have to be licensed to operate in their locality, and the license need to be easily visible for the people to see. In this case, it's always good to check for or ask to be shown the certificate that states the company is allowed to perform the services you need. This is very important especially if you are not so sure about the company. In case the company gets defensive, or maybe can't give you a copy to prove they are licensed, this is a major red flag. Move on and keep looking to find ones that are happy to show you their papers.

8.  Finish the Paperwork Before Handing in Your Cash

Although you are required to pay a given fee for the bail bonds company to post your bail, it's important to sign the dotted line before you hand in over your cash. The paperwork isn't just a formality. It essentially lays out what the company needs to do, and exactly what your obligations are. when there's no signature on the proper documents, then you will just be handing over your money to a stranger. Ensure that there's a document that binds the company to a course of action. In case they try to get money from you before the paperwork is completed and signed, tell them to wait.

By now, we hope you understand what bail bonds are, how they work, and how to go about choosing the best bail bonds company. As you can see, bail bonds can be quite useful if they are used properly. Of course, you don't want to learn about the bail system from the inside, if you can avoid it. jail is no fun. We hope that the tips will come in handy when you find yourself in need of a bondsman.

Trusted Bail Miami 1800 SW 1st St Ste 116 Miami, FL 33135 305-647-6898