If you have been charged with a crime, regardless of whether you are guilty or not, you will be placed in jail. Depending on the severity of the crime you are charged with, you may not be able to leave jail until you post bail. The bail amount can be anything from $5000 to $500,000. Most people won’t have this money available in liquidated assets that are free to use and accessing the money will leave them trapped in jail. That’s why it’s common for people to instead decide to use a bail bond service. With a bail bond company, you will receive a bond or a loan for your full bail amount. This makes it easier as the cost of your bail is spread out and far easier to manage.
However, there are conditions of a bail bond service. One of the key conditions is that you must pay the money back based on the bail bond payment schedule that you agree to. In this article, we’ll explore what could happen if you miss a bail bond payment and the right steps that you should take if you are unable to pay.
Consequences of Missed Bail Bond Payment
If you miss a bail bond payment, then you will immediately void your contract with your bail bond provider. This may or may not lead to legal ramifications but will always have severe consequences for you personally. First, it’s important to realize that when you take out a bail bond, you will be required to sign a contract. This will include stipulations that you must adhere to including paying your bail bond premium on time. If you fail to pay, then a bail bond company has the power to explore both civil and criminal options. This is true regardless of whether or not you are found guilty of the crime. If you have skipped bail, a bondsman may also have the power to arrest you. Furthermore, it will impact your financial health and cause your credit rating to plummet. A court could also revoke your bail.
Skipping Bail Bond Payment: Legal Ramifications
It’s important to understand that failing to pay a bail bond is not a legal violation however it is a contractual failure. Ultimately, this means that a bond agent does have the right to abandon responsibility. If they fail to pay your bail or your bail is left unpaid, then you will be placed back in jail. This will usually occur if you were released before the payment has been made. This is when a court could revoke your bail and that will land you back where you started.
A bail bond company could also take legal action against you to reclaim the money that they have lost due to the missed payments.
Missing Bail Bond Payment: Penalties and Risks
If you end up back in jail, then things can become far more challenging. The reason for this is that you will still be required to pay the original bond. This is going to make it more difficult for you to get another bond which could mean that you are stuck in jail until your trial date. That can make it incredibly challenging to form a strong legal case and it could increase the likelihood that you are found guilty. It can also have a negative impact on your wellbeing and your mental health.
What to Expect if You Can’t Make Bail Bond Payment
If you can’t make a bail bond payment, then you should expect to be contacted by your bail bond company. Their first step will always be to check whether there was an innocent error or a simple misunderstanding. For instance, it’s possible that you simply forgot or that you were confused about the dates when the payment was due or the amount. They won’t automatically assume that you are skipping paying the amount owed. After this, you will likely receive several warnings and if there are still no attempts to rectify the situation, the company likely will take legal action. They may cease responsibility at any time during this process and that will mean that you will be forced to return to jail. A bail bond company could also hire a bounty hunter to get the full amount they are owed.
Bail Bond Payment Default: What You Should Know
The most important thing to know about a bail bond default is that you do have options. If you are not going to be able to pay the full amount you owe, then you should absolutely get in touch with your bail bond provider. Let them know of any issues that you are facing and the reason why you are unable to make the payment. In doing so, you can increase the likelihood of a more favorable outcome that doesn’t lead to you going back to jail.
Failed Bail Bond Payment: Potential Consequences
We hope this helps you understand everything that could happen if you have a missed bail bond payment. Remember, if you do think that you are going to miss a payment for any reason, then you should always reach out to your bail bond company. They may be able to offer an alternative date to make the payment that is more suitable. This could be an option worth exploring if the current payment date is before the day when you typically receive your paycheck.
Alternatively, it may be possible to lower the amount and make it more manageable. Be aware though that this could mean that you need to pay more over an extended period.
At Balboa Bail Bond we strive to provide the best bail bond service in the state of California. We will always aim to support our clients and ensure that they can cover the cost of their bail bond payments. Our team is available 24/7 to offer advice, expertise and support, regardless of your situation.
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