Bail bonds
Among the most frightening situations you can find yourself in is inside a prison after you have been arrested and accused of an supposed crime. Things can go wrong even more when you or your loved ones have no immediate money on hand to post your bail bond, which will allow you temporary freedom. In such a challenging situation, you first need to relax yourself, think clear, and choose the most effective solution: Call a bail bondsman who can help a lot in getting you released from jail.
You are allowed at least one phone call following your arrest. Use that telephone call to connect with a loved one and ask that person to reach out to a bail bond agent. Your loved one could visit our website to find a trustworthy bail bond agent in Levy County who can then post the required bail in your place to secure your temporary freedom.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after getting arrested
The law allows a commercial bonding company to put up a bail bond, also known as surety bond, to help those apprehended and charged with a criminal offense get temporary freedom while awaiting their court hearing.
The judicial system allows two sorts of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To be clear, a judge does not impose a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged crime. You are still presumed innocent up until proven guilty. Having said that, the judge needs to have an assurance that you will appear in court to face your accuser; therefore, the requirement to post bail. If you show up at all your scheduled criminal procedures as promised, and you are in the end found not guilty, the bail amount will be returned to you. In the case that you are found guilty, the bail amount will be used to cover the penalties and fines that the judge may enforce on you. If you skip the court appearances, your bail will be lost and you will be subject to getting arrested.
On the other hand, the civil bail bonds imposed on civil cases function as a guarantee or a surety with the court where the financial obligations, interests, and fees enforced on the offender can be drawn from.
How helpful is a bail bond?
A bonding company is your best opportunity to not spend too much time in jail when you don't have sufficient cash available to pay your bail. A bondsman generally asks for a non-refundable rate of 10% of the bail amount. That is no more than fair, taking into account the risk the bail bondsman is taking in providing the money. In any case, the most pressing concern is to get you released from jail, and for that to happen you need to find a reliable bondsman in your local area.
An agreement with a bonding company is also useful given that they can facilitate your release from prison, simplifying a complicated legal procedure. You can simply contact a bail bondsman who can offer you an agreement and ask you to provide the relevant info about yourself, or a person you wish to bail out of prison. If you approve the contract, you can just relax and wait for the bail bondsman to put up the bail for you.
Obviously you still need to show up at your court hearing. However, now that you're free on a bond, you can appear before a judge in your own clothes. If you had remained in jail because you could not afford to put up bail, you would have turned up in court in a prison jumpsuit -- and that does not make a good impression. A bail bondsman makes it possible for you to make a respectable appearance in the courtroom, which really matters a whole lot considering that first impressions count.
How does the bail bond process work?
Choosing the right bail agent is important. Sadly, there are dishonest businesses out there that take advantage of unsuspicious families who are already desperate .
So be prepared when you speak with a bondsman. Ask all your questions, and only after all your questions are answered should you continue with the subsequent steps of employing them. They can then proceed with posting the bail and filing the required paperwork to get you or a family member released.
What information does a bail bondsman need?
When you speak with a bondsman, they will need to know:
- The full name and age of the defendant
- The jail where the accused is locked up
- The booking reference number and the charges
What does a bonding company accept as collateral?
Not everyone will have the cash lying around to pay a bail bondsman, but that does not mean you can not use one to get yourself or someone else out of prison. If you don't have sufficient money, you can also put up a number of your possessions as collateral. Some items generally accepted as collateral are:
- Real estate
- Cars
- Credit cards
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal credit
- Bank accounts
In addition, most bail agents will also offer you with the possibility for a payment plan that is within your budget and does not add more stress throughout these difficult times.
The bail bonds procedure can be confusing and just as wearisome, however the good news is that a lot of bail bondsmen are ready to assist you 24×7. With our website you can find a trustworthy bonding company in Levy County. They will be more than happy to help you secure you or your loved one from prison!
