Bail bonds
One of the most frightening places you can end up in is inside a jail cell after being arrested and accused of an alleged criminal offense. Things could go wrong even more when you or your family have no immediate money on hand to post your bail bond, which will allow you temporary freedom. During such a challenging situation, you first have to relax yourself, think straight, and go with the most effective solution: Call a bail bondsman who can help a lot in getting you out of prison.
You are permitted at least one phone call following your arrest. Use that telephone call to contact a loved one and ask him or her to connect with a bail bond agent. Your loved one can use our site to look for a reputable bail bondsman in Howell County who can then post the required bail in your place to get you your freedom.
Just what is a bail bond?
A bail bond is a surety bond that is supplied by a bonding company to help with the release of an apprehended person so they can await their court date outside of jail.
There are two kinds of bail bond, particularly 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 defendant will pay the fines and penalties imposed by the court.
Civil bail bonds are for civil cases. These provide surety on the debts, interests, and costs imposed on the defendant.
How beneficial is a bail bond?
A bail bondsman is your biggest hope to not spend considerable time in prison when you don't have sufficient cash available to post your bail. A bonding company usually asks for a non-refundable rate of 10% of the bail. That is no more than reasonable, taking into account the risk the bonding company is taking in providing the bond. In any case, the most pressing concern is to get you released from prison, and for that need to search for a reliable bail bondsman in your city.
A deal with a bondsman is also handy since the latter will facilitate your release from prison, simplifying a difficult judicial procedure. You can simply reach out to a bail agent who can provide you an agreement and ask you to give the needed info about yourself, or a person you intend to bail out of prison. In case you agree to the contract, you can just relax and wait for the bondsman to post the bail for you.
Needless to say you still need to attend your trial. But now that you're free on a bond, you can show up in court in your own clothes. If you had stayed in prison because you could not afford to put up bail, you would appear in court in a prison uniform-- and that does not make a good impression. A bondsman makes it possible for you to have a respectable appearance before the judge, which really matters a lot because first impressions matter.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding a good bondsman is important. Sadly, there are dishonest businesses around that take advantage of unsuspecting families who are already desperate .
Make sure you are ready when you talk to a bondsman. Ask all questions you might have, and only once all your worries are quelled should you take the next steps of employing them. The bonding company can then continue with posting the bail and filing the required papers to get you or a friend released.
What your bail bondsman needs to have from you
When you or a friend link up with a bonding company, they will ask the following questions:
- The full name of the accused
- The name and location of the prison where the accused is held
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The complaints filed against the offender
- Any other important details
What is accepted as collateral?
Almost always, the bonding company will require collateral with the deal. This is understandable, taking into consideration the risks involved. An inmate is a possible flight risk, and there have been many occasions where a bail bondsman had to employ a bounty hunter to recover the fleeing offender.
But what is accepted as collateral? Essentially, if a bail bondsman considers an asset valuable, you can use it as collateral for the bail bond. Listed below are a couple of examples:
- Realty
- Autos
- Equities
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you can't afford the bond right now, bail bonds companies often offer payment plans that you can use. Just talk to the bail bondsman to figure out what option is the best one with regard to your circumstances.
Use this site to find a bail bondsman that is perfect for you. Most of them are open day and night, ready to assist you or a friend to spend the least amount of time in jail as possible.
