Bail bonds
When a person is jailed and charged for a severe criminal offense, they should wait in jail up until a bail hearing. It is at this bail hearing that the judge determines the bail amount. If that individual can't raise the amount, they have to stay in prison until their court hearing. However that does not always have to be the case; they can also seek out the help of a bail bondsman.
Sadly, many people end up staying in jail until their court date due to the fact that many do not have a large amount of cash sitting around in the bank.
Our website will help you with bailing out your loved ones by connecting you to reputable and affordable bail bond agents in Otsego County.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after getting arrested
The law permits a bondsman to put up a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help those arrested and accused of a crime get temporary freedom while waiting for their court hearing.
The legal system allows two sorts of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a judge does not require a criminal bail bond to punish you for your supposed criminal offense. You are still presumed innocent until proven guilty. Nonetheless, the judge requires an assurance that you will show up in court to face your accuser; thus, the need to post bail. If you participate in all your scheduled criminal proceedings as required, and you are eventually found not guilty, the bail amount will be given back to you. If you are condemned, the bail amount will be used to cover the penalties and fines that the judge may enforce on you. If you skip the court hearings, the bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
On the contrary, the civil bail bonds imposed on civil cases function as an assurance or a surety with the court where the debts, claims, and charges imposed on the accused can be taken from.
A bail bondsman is your link to freedom
A bail bondsman is your fastest link to freedom after your arrest. When you don't have sufficient money to pay the bail yourself and gain temporary liberty, your best course of action is a reputable bail bond company that will cover the bail for you. Most bail bond companies request a premium of 10% of the total bail amount. That is just reasonable, considering the risk the company is taking in providing the money. If you fail to appear at trial, the judge will forfeit the bail posted by the bonding company. In any case, you do not need to worry yourself with the finances now. Your most pressing concern is to get yourself out of jail, and a trustworthy bondsman can make that happen for you.
Additionally, you do not need to bother yourself with the difficult judicial process in putting up bail because the bondsman will handle that to help with your release from prison. All that needs to be done is for you or your representative to get in touch with a reputable bail agent. That representative will offer you a deal, proposing to post your bail to get you released from jail in return for a reasonable fee. With your consent, the bail bondsman will then pay the bail in your place, releasing you from jail.
You still must show up at your court hearing though. However, you will be coming to court in dignified civilian clothes and not in a prison jumpsuit. That could increase your confidence as you deliver your defense. Moreover, the judge hearing your case will likely have a more positive impression of you, rather than if you were to appear in court wearing a jail attire, seeming like you're already guilty of the offense you're indicted for even before the judge could make a ruling. You can give thanks your bondsman for making this possible.
How does the bail bond process work?
Choosing a good bondsman is very important. Unfortunately, there are dishonest individuals around that prey on unsuspicious families who are already desperate .
So be prepared when you speak with a bail bondsman. Ask all your questions, and only once all your questions are answered should you continue with the next steps of employing them. The bail bondsman can then proceed with posting the bail and filing the required papers to get you or a family member out.
What your bondsman needs to have from you
After you or a friend get in contact with a bondsman, they will ask for the following details:
- The name of the defendant
- The name and location of the jailhouse where the accused is held
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The charges filed against the offender
- Any other relevant info
Will the bondsman need collateral for their service?
If a bonding company will want collateral for differs between cases, but it is a common practice in the industry. Regarding the sort of collateral that is acceptable, the list is just way too long to mention everything. But if a bondsman believes that an item is valueable, it can be acceptable as collateral. Listed below are just some examples:
- House or land
- Cars, boats, yachts
- Jewelry or gems
- Shares, stocks or equities
- Bank accounts
- TV, appliances or other devices
- Antiques or art
- Farm equipment
And when available, you can also make use of payment options offered by a bail bondsman.
When you or a family member are in danger of staying in jail for a long time simply because you can not raise the amount, a bondsman is the only course of action that is left. On our website you can find a bonding company in Otsego County. Most of them available day and night.
