Bail bonds
Among the most scary situations you can find yourself in is inside a prison after you have been arrested and charged with an alleged criminal offense. Things could go south even more if you or your loved ones have no immediate cash available to post your bail , which will allow you temporary freedom. In such a difficult moment, you first need to calm yourself, think straight, and choose the most helpful solution: Call a bail bondsman who can really help a lot in getting you released from jail.
You are permitted at least one phone call following your arrest. Use that phone call to contact a family member and request him or her to contact a bail bondsman. Your loved one could visit our site to look for a reliable bail bond agent in Howard County who can then post the required bail on your behalf to secure your freedom.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after an arrest
The legal system allows a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help those apprehended and charged with a crime get temporarily released from jail while awaiting their court appearance.
The legal system allows two sorts of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To be clear, a court does not impose a criminal bail bond to punish you for your supposed criminal offense. You are still presumed innocent up until proven guilty. However, the court needs to have a guarantee that you will show up at trial to face your accuser; hence, the need to post bail. If you show up at all your scheduled criminal proceedings as promised, and you are in the end found not guilty, the bail amount will be given back to you. In case you are found guilty, the bail money will be used to cover the penalties and fines that the court may enforce on you. If you skip the court hearings, the bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to getting arrested.
On the other hand, the civil bail bonds imposed on civil cases work as an assurance or a surety with the court where the financial obligations, interests, and costs enforced on the accused can be paid from.
Do I need to hire a bail bondsman?
When you can afford to pay bail by yourself, you certainly don't need to have to employ the services of a bail bondsman. For one, they ask a fee for their service, not to mention the collateral you must provide for what is undoubtedly classified as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bonding company will charge a fee of about 10-20% of the overall amount of the bail bond. You will not get this money back even when you are cleared of the crime. On the upside, you do not need to bother with submitting the paperwork or need to deal with court staff since the bail bondsman will take care of all that for you. Besides that, you will have a better chance of having your bail request approved by virtue of the credibility and reputation of the bail bondsman alone. Thirdly, because of their familiarity with the process, you can possibly be out of jail in a couple of hours.
Lastly, the bail bonds company understands the benefit of a good first impression on the judge and jury. If you are committed to the regional or federal jail, you will be hauled to the courtroom in the official prisoner's jumpsuit. In contrast, if you are out on a bail bond, you are able to dress well and make a good impression on the judge and jury.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding the right bondsman is very important. Sadly, there are unscrupulous companies around that take advantage of unwary families who are already desperate .
So be prepared when you get in touch with a bonding company. Ask all questions you might have, and only once all your worries are quelled should you continue with the next steps of employing them. The bonding company can then proceed with posting the bail and submitting the required documents to get you or a friend out.
What info does a bonding company need?
When you speak to a bonding company, they will need to know:
- The full name and age of the defendant
- The location where the accused is held
- The booking number and the charge
Collateral that a bondsman can accept
You are seeking the assistance of a bail bondsman precisely for the reason that you have no immediate source of money to use for putting up your bail. But needless to say bail bond companies will not shell out cash on your behalf without needing a guarantee that they will be repaid. They will need collateral in the form of your possessions like:
- Real estate
- Automobiles
- Bank accounts
- High-priced jewelry
- Bonds
- Shares
- Credit cards
- Personal credit
Don't get discouraged by the amount of money you must pay back. Your bail bondsman will provide you reasonable payment terms. The bonding company's affordable fee is not much compared to the peace of mind that the bondsman in Howard County has brought you by ensuring your release from prison in the fastest way possible by streamlining the bail process. Know that somebody out there can assist you in these times of need. You or your friend can choose from the bondsmen listed on our site. The majority of them are open for business 24x7.
