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Bail and Bond: What's the difference?

  There is a technical distinction between bail and bonds; however, the difference between the two terms is often not considered. They are typically used in conjunction to define the amount set by the judge, which must be paid before the person is being questioned and allowed out of prison. Based on the expert's expertise on bail bonds, there is a fundamental difference between these two widely utilized terms. The difference between Bail and Bond Bail The distinction between bond and bail is identified by the person who pays the fee if the person is detained because of his actions. The judge who is in charge of the case is responsible for deciding the amount they have to pay to the person who is being sued to release him from prison. This amount is known as"bail "bail." There are many options for paying the bail, and the courts can accept a secured check or the entire quantity of bail as cash. Additionally, courts take credit card payments. It is also possibl...

The Bail Bond Surety

  When a bail bond is issued for a defendant who is in a proceeding of a criminal trial, it's possible to obtain their release by either paying for the bond's total amount or contacting a bail bond firm to put the money in their name. If a bail bond firm provides the bond, it is known as a "surety" bond. A bail bond for surety is guaranteed by a bondsman or insurance company. If a surety bond is made, the defendant must pay a small amount of their bond value; generally, it is 10 percent. How does a Surety Bond Bail work? It is usually three parties that participate in making a surety bail bond: the defendant, the agency that is requesting the bail, and the bondsman or the company. If a defendant fails to show on their hearing, then the bail bond becomes the bounty hunter. A bondsman is entitled to withdraw their surety bail at any point. If they suspect that a person is likely to skip bail, they can cancel their bond and request it returned to the arresting ag...

5 Common Myths About Bail Bonds

  If you find yourself in need of help from a bail bondsman, be aware that there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding how bail bonds work. This can make the process more stressful at a time when it’s already hard enough to find someone trustworthy to help. Let’s take a look at some common misconceptions about using a bail bondsman so that you know what’s really going on MYTH 1: You must pay the bail bond company in cash Your bail bond service fee does not have to be paid in cash. There are lots of different ways you can pay your bail bond agency. These include cash, checks, credit cards, and money orders. Some bail bond companies also accept installment payments. If you decide to make installment payments, you must still pay the entire service fee, regardless of the outcome of your court case. Contact your bail bond agency to find out what kinds of payment arrangements you can make for them. MYTH 2: You must pay most of the bail yourself Using a bail bond agency al...

The Basics of Bail Bonds

  You are never prepared for those unexpected emergencies: the late-night phone call of a frantic family member or friend explaining they have been arrested and taken to jail. Your first thoughts are of how you can help get them released from jail as quickly as possible. A bail bondsman is often the fastest and easiest way to help bail out your friend or family member. It's important for you to know how the bail bond process works from start to finish, that way you can know what to expect along the way.   Arrest and Booking Once someone is arrested, they will be transported to the detention center for booking. This process will consist of fingerprinting, photographs, a background check, and a nationwide warrant search. They will be searched for any weapons or contraband, and any personal belongings will be collected and held until their release from jail. This process could take anywhere from 2-6 hours to complete, depending on how busy the jail staff is with processing ...

Criminal Law Questions - How Do Bail Bonds Work?

When a person is arrested for a crime, a court will set bail depending on the severity of the crime and the defendant's previous criminal history. If the defendant is unable to pay their bail, they will be held in jail until their next court appearance. This is an issue for a lot of individuals who are arrested. A person often has work and family obligations, and being locked up for a long period of time could be difficult. People who find themselves in this difficult situation need a bail bond in order to get released from custody as soon as possible. A bail bond is a guarantee given by the court to a bail bondsman or bond firm. The bail ensures that the defendant will appear in court on their scheduled day. If the arrested person fails to appear in court, the bail bondsman is obligated to pay the bail amount. Because the bondsman must pay the bail for a no-show defendant, many bail bond companies seek collateral for high bail amounts. The fee for obtaining a bond agent is 10% of ...

Oh No, I Have Been Arrested - What Now?

If you've been arrested and charged with a crime, you'll almost certainly be sent to prison for booking. Booking is an important aspect of the record-keeping process. It includes your mug shot, fingerprints, the alleged offense(s), and a few other details surrounding your arrest. Next, using a schedule set up by the courts, a bail will be set.  The severity of your crimes, as well as the number of charges brought against you, determine the amount. In certain circumstances, no bail will be issued; however, in the majority of cases, bail will be set. In addition, unless you have been charged by a grand jury, you will appear before the magistrate to be informed of the charges filed against you and to be advised of the bail amount. In certain situations, the judge may ask you a few questions, but in most cases, your appearance is brief and is normally done by closed-circuit television from the jail to the judge in the courtroom. During your initial appearance, the judge may ask if ...

Why Should I Use a Bail Bondsman?

We've learned a lot during the twenty-five years we've been in the bail bonds business about what potential clients want to know when they explore their bail options. A typical question people have is whether to pay for the services of a bail bondsman or simply post the bond themselves. Since the large majority of society is able to produce enough ready cash to post bail for most offenses, the answer typically comes down to balancing the benefits of each option. Here are some of the reasons why the small percentage of the bond amount you must pay a professional bondsman will be well worth the value of their experience and thorough understanding of the bail and trial process. One of the most compelling reasons to hire a bail bondsman when posting bail is that the defendant is not the one coming up with the money because they are in jail. Often, a friend or family is required to carry out the administration of, pay the money for, and therefore assume all of the risks of posting b...