No one wants to find themselves behind bars. Whether for the first or fifth time, it’s always a nerve-wracking experience that the individual would much rather do without. Still, it’s just a fact of life that mistakes happen from time to time, and there’s always a chance that you’ll find yourself arrested and sitting inside a jail cell.
It’s important to remember, however, that you’ll nearly always have the option of posting bail and securing your freedom. In this post, we’ll run through everything you need to know about posting a bail bond, including how to pay a bail bond, what happens to bail bond money, what percentage does a bail bondsman required to post bond, and run you through answers to some of the most common questions we receive, such as ‘what time does bail bonds close?’ OK, let’s dive in.
How to Pay Bail Bond: A Step-by-Step Guide
You’ll be hoping to get out of jail as soon as possible, and how you’ll do that is by posting bail promptly. There are two ways to do this — you can either use your own money to post bail or work with a bail bond agent, who will post bail on your behalf in exchange for a fee.
Given the high cost of bail, the majority of people find that it’s best to work with a bail bond agent. Even if the individual can access the tens of thousands required to post bail, they still usually prefer to work with a bondsman. Since it’s more discreet than posting bail directly, working with a bond agent can help to keep private run-ins with the law that people would prefer to keep private, such as ones that require the services of a domestic violence attorney.
Once you’ve gotten in touch with a bail bond agent, things can move quickly. The process generally looks like this:
- Step One: You can contact Balboa Bail Bonds.
- Step Two: We come to an agreement (such as the cost of our services, and when payment will be made).
- Step Three: We post bail on your behalf.
- Step Four: You have secured your freedom, and will pay our fees in line with the pre-agreed payment schedule.
What Happens to Bail Bond Money: Explained
To understand what happens to bail bond money, you have to understand the purpose of bail. It’s essentially a money-backed guarantee that the arrested will show up to their future court appearances. If they don’t, then the money is forfeited and a warrant is put out for their arrest.
If they fulfill all of their judicial responsibilities, then the money is returned. Or at least, it is in most cases. In some instances, bail money may be used to pay restitution to victims in the event of a guilty verdict. However, that is unlikely. Note that people who work with a bail bond agent will still need to pay the agent’s fees, even if they do turn up to their court appearances.
Understanding Court Costs on Bail Bonds
The courts may impose their own additional costs on top of the cost of the bail bond. However, it’s the bail amount itself which contributes to the bulk of the cost. Bail amounts are set unusually high, especially in California, where even relatively minor crimes can attract bail amounts that run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
In some cases, courts will add administrative and filing fees, but that doesn’t usually happen at the bail bond stage.
The Role of a Bail Bondsman: Required Percentage for Posting Bond
To many people, working with a bail bondsman is their only realistic method of leaving jail and returning home. As we said above, bail amounts can be prohibitively expensive for the vast majority of citizens. In those cases, it’s the bail bond agent that comes to the rescue.
However, it’s important to remember that bail bondsmen are professionals, and will thus charge a fee for their services. In California, these fees are capped at 10% of the total bail cost. That means if your bail is $20,000, then the maximum you’ll be charged is $2,000. Financing is available that’ll allow you to spread the cost over a period of time.
Decoding Executed Bail Bond Amounts: What Does it Mean?
Bail bonds play a vital role in the judicial system, and it’s important that they’re managed correctly. If you’re wondering what does it mean in a court case when it says verify court cost on bail bond, here’s your answer: it just means that there’s a physical record of all the costs associated with the bail bond. An executed bail bond is simply a bail bond that has been paid in full and accepted by the courts.
Can You Call a Bail Bondsman to Verify Bond Payment?
Most bail bondsmen will make themselves available to their clients. Here at Balboa Bail Bonds, we treat all of our clients with care and respect — and that means picking up the phone when they call. If you’ve been working with a bail bond agent and need an update on the progress of the bail process, then get in touch. However, you can trust that they’re working to make the bond payment as quickly as possible.
Clearing the Confusion: Do Bail Bonds Charge Extra Fees?
Some bail bond agents try to take advantage of their clients’ difficult positions by adding extra charges. As we said above, bondsmen are not allowed to charge more than 10% of the total cost of the bond. However, some add service and administrative fees that push the costs up. It’s best to avoid these bond agents. During your initial phone call, the bond agent should be upfront about the costs of their services.
Accepted Forms of Payment for Bail Bonds: How You Can Pay
Each jail has its own payment methods that it accepts. In most cases, they’ll accept credit cards. If you work with a bail bond agent, you’ll have a greater variety of payment methods. Here at Balboa Bail Bonds, we accept debit/credit cards, checks, and cash. You can make payment by phone, in person, or by mail.
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