Bail bonds
When a person is incarcerated and booked for a major crime, they must wait in jail until a bail hearing. It is during this bail hearing that the judge determines the bail . If that person can't raise the amount, they have to stay in prison until their court hearing. However that does not always need to be the case; they can also seek the help of a bail bondsman.
Regrettably, most people wind up staying in prison until their court appearance because most do not have a large amount of money sitting around in the bank.
Our site will help you with bailing out your loved ones by connecting you to reliable and affordable bail bond agents in Antrim County.
Exactly what is a bail bond?
A bail bond is a surety bond that is provided by a bonding company to help secure the release of an arrested individual so they can await their court date outside of prison.
There are 2 types of bail bond, namely a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
A criminal bail bond comes into play in criminal cases. It ensures that the accused shows up during the trial and at the same time guarantees that the accused will pay the fines and penalties imposed by the court.
Civil bail bonds are for civil cases. These offer surety on the financial obligations, interests, and costs imposed on the defendant.
Do I need to hire a bondsman?
If you are able to post bail by yourself, you certainly don't have to work with a bonding company. For one, they require a small charge for their assistance, in addition to the collateral you need to provide for what is certainly categorized as a loan.
In almost all states, the bonding company will charge a fee of around 10-20% of the total amount of the bail. You can't get this refunded even if you are cleared of the offense. However, you don't need to bother with filing the necessary documents or dealing with court staff since the bondsman will take care of everything . Besides that, you will have a better chance of having your bail request approved because of the credibility and reputation of the bonding company alone. Lastly, as a result of their familiarity with the process, you can be released from prison in a matter of hours .
Lastly, the bail bondsman knows the value of a good first impression on the judge and jury. If you are committed to the regional or federal jail, you will be transported to court in the official inmate's uniform. In contrast, if you made bail, you are able to dress smartly and ensure a good impression on the judge and jury.
Here's how the bail bonds process works
When you are arrested and charged with an alleged crime, the first thing that you must do is to call a lawyer and somebody, possibly even the lawyer himself, who can get you in touch with a bail agent to start the bail bonds procedure. You or your representative can work with the bail bondsman who will ask you basic questions such as the accused's name, date of birth, and the location or city of the arrest. The bondsman will then provide you an arrangement for providing your bail . When you agree with the agreement, the bail bondsman will deal with all the procedures to get you out of jail. With help from the bail bondsman, you can leave prison and be in the c ompany of your loved ones once again.
What your bondsman needs to know about you
When you or your representative connect with a bonding company, the latter will ask for the folowing information:
- The name of the offender
- The name and location of the prison where the defendant is held
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The charges filed against the accused
- Any extra relevant information
What is accepted as collateral?
Almost always, the bail bondsman requires collateral with the transaction. This is reasonable taking into account the risks involved. A prisoner is a possible flight risk, and there have been plenty of occasions where a bonding company needed to employ the services of a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing defendant.
But what is acceptable as collateral? In a nut-shell, when a bail bondsman considers something valuable, you can use it as a guarantee for the bail. Listed below are a couple of examples:
- Real estate
- Automobiles
- Equities
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you find that the bond is too high, bail bonds companies usually have payment options that you can make use of. Simply speak with the bondsman to determine which option is the best one with regard to your circumstances.
Use our website to search for a bondsman that will be perfect for you. Many of them operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to assist you or a friend to spend the least amount of time in prison as possible.
