Being asked to help a friend, family or loved one cover the cost of bail puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders. After all, as a co-signer, they could be asking for you to pay anything from a small percentage of the bail amount to the entire fee – which can be difficult depending on your own financial situation.
Right now, 6.458 million adults in the US are out of work. If you’re unemployed, you may be worried about the impact this can have on your ability to bond someone out of jail. After all, not only do you have to pull the money together, but you must also ensure that you are eligible to do so.
Job Requirements for Bonding Out: Explained.
It is generally advised that those who are looking for a co-signer for their bail bond ask for an individual who has steady employment and a reliable income stream. However, this is only because it simplifies the process somewhat, as they’re more likely to have access to the necessary funds. This often means that the arrested individual can be released from custody as quickly as possible.
However, in most cases, employment is not a requirement when it comes to bonding a friend or loved one out of jail. After all, this is not to say that being out of work means that you can not pull this money from other sources, such as your savings account.
Furthermore, there are also plenty of resources available to you that can make it easier to cover these costs, such as working with a bail bond agent.
Non-Working Individuals and Bail: What You Need to Know.
As mentioned above, there are many scenarios in which an unemployed individual may be able to post bail on behalf of their friend or loved one.
For example, you may be able to cover the requested amount in full based on your current financial situation or cover the cost of a bail bond instead. However, it is worth noting that there are consequences to agreeing to co-sign a bail bond, and you are then unable to cover the costs.
Job or No Job: Can You Still Get Someone Out Of Jail?
Your employment status has little influence over your ability to help someone get out of jail. For example, this is not a prerequisite when it comes to covering the cost of a bail bond, either.
If you are unfamiliar with bail bonds, this refers to a legal process in which you can lower the costs typically associated with posting bail (for yourself or those you are supporting) by having a bail bond agency pay the fee on your behalf. However, in order for this to become a possibility, you have to first pay a non-refundable fee to the bail bond agent, which is typically somewhere between 10-15% of the total bail amount set by the judge.
For example, if bail was set at $10,000, you’d likely pay a bail bond agent roughly $1,000-$1,500 – making the process of posting bail a lot more accessible.
Unemployed and Bail: How to Secure Someone’s Release.
Providing they have been granted bail, it is relatively easy to work alongside a bail bond agent to secure someone’s release – regardless of your current employment status.
- Gather the relevant details. If you are reaching out on behalf of the individual who has been arrested, you should try to gather as much information as possible relating to their arrest. This should include details on the charges they are facing, their inmate number, and where they are currently being detained.
- Reach Out To A Bail Bond Agent. Following this, you should reach out directly to a bail bond agent who will be able to initiate the next step of the process. They will let you know exactly how much you will have to pay in order to obtain a bail bond through their company.
- Pay the Bail Bond. Once you’ve discussed the finer details with your chosen bail bond agency, it’s time to pay the bail bond fee. In some scenarios, you may be able to set up a payment plan in order to break this sum into smaller, more manageable amounts, which could be particularly beneficial if you are unemployed.
- Await their release. Once you have paid the bail bond fee to the agent, your work is done. They will initiate the next step of the process, during which they will pay the full bail amount to the relevant authorities. This generally means that, within a few hours, your friend or loved one will be released from jail ahead of their trial.
The Big Question: Do you have to have a job to bond someone out of jail?
As mentioned above, being asked to bond someone out of jail is a significant request, and it’s important not to accept it blindly. After all, this could put you under considerable financial strain, especially if you are currently facing unemployment or have been out of work for some time.
That being said, it is still entirely possible to bond someone out of jail or to act as a co-signer for a bail bond when jobless. After all, by relying on the support of a trusted bail bond agent, you can lower the amount of financial liability you face during this time, meaning that you only have to put forward a percentage of the total fee.
This ensures that your loved one is released as quickly as possible so that they continue on with their life without interruption until their court date. It also means that they can work closely with their attorney so that they are able to develop a stronger case. If you’re looking for a bail bond agent you can trust, look no further than Balboa Bond Agents. Get in touch today to find out more.
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