Bail bonds
When an offender is arrested, he or she will have to spend time in jail while awaiting a bail hearing. This hearing is a procedure in which the court will establish the amount of bail that functions as a guarantee to the court for the temporary freedom of the defendant. But not everybody is able to pay the requested amount of money, and if that's the case he or she will need to stay in prison throughout the lawsuit. Fortunately, {it is possible to enlist the services of|you can make use of a bail bondsman to pay for the amount.
We will help you find professional bondsmen in San Mateo County that can ensure that you or your loved ones can exercise their right to freedom, at least until the sentencing.
Why does a judge impose a bail bond ?
The legal system allows the services of a bondsman to post a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help a suspect get temporary freedom while waiting for their court hearing.
The law allows two sorts of bail bond-- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To be clear, a court does not impose a criminal bail bond to penalize you for your supposed criminal offense. You are still presumed innocent until proven guilty. That being said, the judge requires a guarantee that you will show up in court to face your accuser; hence, the requirement to post bail. If you participate in all of your arranged criminal proceedings as required, and you are in the end found not guilty, the bail amount will be given back to you. If you are found guilty, the bail amount will be used to pay for the penalties and fines that the judge may impose on you. When you skip the court appearances, the bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
The same reasoning applies with the civil bail bonds. The bail imposed on civil cases serves as an assurance or a surety that the accused will be capable to pay the penalties and fines that the judge may impose on the suspect after the trial.
Why should I care about a bail bond?
Except if you are planning to stay in jail, you need to get out on bail. At the same time, very few people are able to afford it, which is why a bonding company is of utmost importance to anybody who would like to wait for their trial out of prison.
The amount of bail {will vary|depends on a lot of different aspects. For instance, two persons who committed the same criminal offense can have very different amounts of bail. This occurs because the judge will look into your financial circumstances, previous arrests, your roots in the community, and whether you pose a flight risk.
In almost all states, the rate charged by the bondsman is usually 10-20% of the overall bail amount, and you will not get this back.
Furthermore, the bondsman can assist you with the complicated judicial procedures. It's more convenient to employ a bail bondsman then to deal with the court by yourself.
How does the bail bonds process work?
To start the bail bonds procedure, you first need to get a bail bondsman. You can do that in person, over the phone and even via the internet. Given the strict adherence to professionalism, a bail bondsman will gladly walk you through the bail procedure and straighten out any doubts that you may have.
Time is of the essence during this procedure. When the bail agent addressed all of your questions to your satisfaction, the bail bondsman will handle all of the formalities vital to get you or your loved one released from prison.
To make certain all goes smoothly, a bail bondsman needs to know the offender's name, birthdate, and the location or city of the arrest. With this info, the bail bondsman will be able to get additional information from the prison system required to secure the release. After managing all the procedures, the bondsman will visit the prison to get the defendant out.
Using a bonding company to bail out yourself or somebody you know is that simple, you can be out of jail and reunited with your loved ones in a matter of hours.
What info does a bonding company need?
When you get in touch with a bonding company, they will ask for:
- The full name and age of the offender
- The jail where the accused is held
- The booking reference number and the charges
Collateral that a bondsman can accept
Your lack of available money is the main reason why you are looking for the assistance of a bail bondsman. They will offer to put up your bail in return for you putting one or some of your possessions up as collateral. These possessions may include:
- Bank accounts
- Real estate
- Stocks
- Visa or mastercard
- Personal credit
- Expensive jewelry
- Cars
- Bonds
You can expect the bail agent to offer you a fair repayment plan that is within your means. During this tough moment in your life, the bail bondsman will help ease your worries and simplify the bail procedure for you. Most {bondsmen can be reached|bonding companies are open 24/7. Using our site you can look for a trusted bail bondsman in San Mateo County who can aid you in securing your freedom once more.
