Bail bonds
Essentially, a bail bond is a kind of guarantee that you are going to attend the court hearing at the specified date. In return, you will be permitted to remain free despite the fact that you are still awaiting trial for a criminal or civil charge. Alternatively, you will stay jail while waiting for the court to decide on either acquittal or conviction. A bondsman can post bail for you and get you released from prison.
Depending upon the charge, the cost of bail can be high. Few suspects are able to pay the bail. There's a reason why the correctional system is overburdened. But there's a legal solution to gain your temporary release from jail even while your case is on-going. With our site you can search for a trustworthy bail bondsman in Mason County.
Why does a judge impose a bail bond ?
The law allows the services of a commercial bonding company to post a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help an accused get temporary freedom while awaiting their court appearance.
The legal system allows two types of bail bond-- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a judge does not require a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged crime. You are still presumed innocent until proven guilty. Nonetheless, the judge needs an assurance that you will appear in court to face your accuser; thus, the need to post bail. If you show up at all your scheduled criminal proceedings as required, and you are eventually found not guilty, the bail amount will be given back to you. In case you are condemned, the bail money will be used to pay for the fines and penalties that the judge may impose on you. When you skip the court appearances, the bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to getting arrested.
The same reasoning applies to civil bail bonds. The bail imposed on civil cases works as a guarantee or a surety that the suspect will be able to pay the fines and penalties that the judge can enforce on the accused after the trial.
A bondsman is your way to freedom
A bail bondsman is your fastest link to freedom after your apprehension. If you don't have sufficient money to pay the bail yourself and gain temporary liberty, your best course of action is a reliable bail bond company that will post the bail on your behalf. Most bondsmen request a fee of 10% of the bail amount. That is just fair, taking into consideration the risk the company is taking in providing the bail bond. If you do not appear in court, the court will forfeit the bail posted by the bondsman. Anyway, you do not need to worry yourself with the finances at this time. Your pressing concern is to get yourself out of prison, and a reputable bail bondsman can handle that for you.
Additionally, you need not worry yourself with the difficult judicial process in posting bail because the bail bondsman will handle that to assist in your release from prison. The only thing that needs to be done is for you or your representative to get in touch with a respected bail agent. That agent will present you a deal, proposing to pay your bail to get you released from prison in return for a small fee. With your consent, the bonding company will then put up the bail in your place, releasing you from custody.
You still must attend your trial though. But you will be arriving at court in dignified civilian clothes and not in a jail uniform. That can improve your confidence as you deliver your defense. Furthermore, the judge assigned to your case will probably have a more positive impression of you, rather than if you were to show up in court being dressed in jail attire, looking like you're already guilty of the offense you're charged with even before the judge can make a ruling. You can thank your bondsman for arranging this.
How does the bail bond process work?
Choosing the right bail bondsman is important. Sadly, there are shady individuals around who take advantage of unsuspicious people that are already desperate for help.
So be prepared when you contact a bonding company. Ask all questions you might have, and only after all your questions are answered should you take the next steps of hiring them. They can then proceed with paying the bail and submitting the required paperwork to get you or a family member out.
What your bondsman needs to know about you
After you or your representative get in contact with a bondsman, they will ask for the folowing information:
- The name of the defendant
- The name and location of the prison where the accused is held
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The complaints filed against the defendant
- Any extra relevant details
What does a bail bondsman accept as collateral?
Not everyone will have the cash lying around to pay a bonding company, however that does not mean you can not utilize one to get yourself or another person out of jail. If you don't have enough money, you can also put up some of your assets as collateral. Some things typically accepted as collateral are:
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Visa or mastercard
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal credit
- Bank accounts
Furthermore, most bail bondsmen will also provide you with the possibility for a payment plan that you can afford and does not add more stress throughout these difficult times.
The bail bonds process can be puzzling and just as wearisome, but the good news is that a lot of bonding companies are ready to assist you 24×7. With our site you can search for a trustworthy bail bondsman in Mason County. They will be more than happy to help you get you or your loved one from prison!
