Bail Bonds in Tennessee


Want to list your bail bonds business on this page? Click here to contact us!

Bail bonds

Essentially, a bail bond is a sort of promise that you will attend the court hearing at the specified date. In return, you are allowed to walk free even though you are still undergoing trial for a civil or criminal charge. Otherwise, you will remain jail while waiting for the court to rule on a verdict. A bail bondsman can post bail for you and get you out of jail.

Depending on the charge, the amount of bail could be high. Few suspects have the ability to put up the bail. There's a good reason why the correctional system is overburdened. But there's a legal manner in which to earn your temporary release from prison even while your case is ongoing. With our site you can search for a credible bondsman in Tennessee.

Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after an arrest

The legal system allows a bail bondsman to put up a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help those arrested and charged with a criminal offense gain temporary freedom while awaiting their court appearance.

The law allows two kinds of bail -- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.

To be clear, a court does not require a criminal bail bond to penalize you for your supposed criminal offense. You are still innocent up until proven guilty. Nevertheless, the court needs an assurance that you will show up in court to face your accuser; therefore, the requirement to post bail. If you participate in all of your scheduled criminal proceedings as required, and you are in the end acquitted, the bail will be repaid to you. If you are condemned, the bail will be used to cover the penalties and fines that the court might enforce on you. If you skip the court appearances, your bail will be lost and you will be subject to getting arrested.

On the other hand, the civil bail bonds enforced on civil cases function as an assurance or a surety with the court where the financial obligations, interests, and fees enforced on the offender can be taken from.

Should I hire a bondsman?

When you can afford to pay bail by yourself, you don't have to employ the services of a bondsman. For one, they ask a small fee for their assistance, not to mention the collateral you must provide for what is definitely categorized as a loan.

In almost all states, the bondsman will charge a fee of about 10-20% of the total amount of the bail bond. You can't get this back even if you are cleared of the offense. On the upside, you don't need to worry about submitting the paperwork or have to deal with court personnel since the bail bondsman will take care of everything . Secondly, you will have a better prospect of getting your bail application approved because of the reputation of the bail bondsman alone. Thirdly, as a result of their experience with the procedure, you can be released from jail in a matter of hours .

Lastly, the bail bondsman recognizes the importance of a good first impression on the judge and jury. If you are transferred to the regional or federal prison, you are going to be transported to the courtroom in the official inmate's jumpsuit. In contrast, when you made bail, you are able to dress well and ensure a good impression on the judge and jury.

How does the bail bond process work?

Choosing a good bail bondsman is important. Unfortunately, there are shady companies out there who take advantage of unsuspicious families that are already desperate .

Make sure you are ready when you speak with a bonding company. Ask all questions you might have, and only after all your questions are answered should you continue with the next steps of hiring them. The bail bondsman can then start with posting the bail and submitting the necessary paperwork to get you or a friend released.

Preparing to meet with a bondsman?

You should have have the following relevant information handy when talking to the bondsman:

  • The defendant's name
  • The prison, city, and county where the suspect is held
  • The suspect's booking number
  • The charges the accused is facing
  • The amount of the bail

What does a bonding company accept as collateral?

Not everyone will have the money lying around to pay a bondsman, however that does not mean you can not use one to get yourself or somebody else out of prison. If you don't have sufficient cash, you can also put up some of your possessions as collateral. Some things often accepted as collateral are:

  • Realty
  • Vehicles
  • Visa or mastercard
  • Stocks
  • Bonds
  • Jewelry
  • Personal credit
  • Bank accounts

Moreover, most bail agents will also provide you with the option for a payment plan that you can afford and does not add more pressure during these difficult times.

The bail bonds process can be puzzling and equally wearisome, but the good news is that many bonding companies are ready to help you 24×7. With our site you can search for a credible bondsman in Tennessee. They will be more than delighted to help you secure you or your loved one from jail!


Cities in Tennessee

Counties in Tennessee