When posting bail in the State of California, having a cosigner can make life a lot easier, especially when you don’t have the capital to cover the costs yourself. However, it’s not an option that’s available to everyone, which is why knowing what to do if you can’t find a cosigner is vital.
In this guide, we will take a look at some of the best alternatives to help you secure a quick release from jail.
Firstly, Why Might a Cosigner Not Be Available?
A cosigner is a person who takes financial responsibility for your bail agreement. This means that they agree to cover the costs of your bail fee should you take flight or break other bail terms.
So, if you are deemed eligible for bail at a bail hearing, you will be offered the opportunity to use a cosigner. This is usually a loved one, but there are many reasons why you might not be able to find one, such as;
- You do not have any family living in the State of California.
- Loved ones do not have good credit histories or access to capital.
- You are unable to get in contact with loved ones whilst in custody.
- Cosigners may not trust that you will satisfy the terms of bail.
In some cases, it is possible to secure a release from custody without a cosigner on the condition that you find one within 72 hours. However, this doesn’t offer much help if you genuinely can’t find someone to help you.
What To Do if You Can’t Find a Cosigner
Thankfully, using a cosigner isn’t the only option at your disposal. Here are some of the alternative paths that you may wish to investigate.
Posting Bail Yourself
Perhaps the easiest alternative to posting bail with a cosigner is to use a self-bail option. However, your bail hearing will probably see your bail figure set to somewhere between $10,000 and $100,000. Moreover, you are expected to pay this upfront, meaning you’ll need access to huge sums of cash.
If you are in a particularly good financial position, this may be possible. Nevertheless, accessing this level of funding when you are in custody can be very difficult. Alternatively, you may be able to use real estate assets as collateral. In this instance, though, the value of the property must be at least twice the bail amount.
Use Crowdfunding
You may not have been able to find a person to take on the financial liability. However, peer-to-peer lending may be an option thanks to crowdfunding. It should be noted, though, that this is only an option for people who have a large following – perhaps due to being a public figure.
Moreover, it can take time for funds to clear and you will need to raise the full amount before this method becomes useful.
Loans
If you do not have the funds to post bail, there may be other ways to access them through borrowing. Bank loans, car title loans, and short-term financial loans are all options to consider. However, you may need someone to complete the hard work if you’re currently in custody.
Still, it is a useful alternative if you have loved ones who simply don’t have the financial power to cosign an agreement but are happy to assist you where possible. Home equity loans are possible too, although you’d usually be better off using real estate bail agreements.
Post Bail With a Bondsman
In many cases, though, the best option is to call a professional and licensed bail bondsman. For starters, the financing options mean you avoid posting fees, processing fees, and mobile service fees. Moreover, it opens the door to more affordable and accessible bail options.
When using a bail bondsman, you pay a premium that is equivalent to 10% of the bail fee. While non-refundable, it saves you from various fees. Moreover, it means you’ll only have to find a four-figure fee rather than a five-figure fee. Crucially, with Balboa Bonds, you are only required to pay a few hundred dollars now before clearing the rest of your balance with an arranged repayment plan.
In many cases, defendants can pay for bail bondsman services themselves, not least because payment types extend to credit cards. If you can’t, though, loved ones will be more likely to become cosigners in this situation due to the significantly reduced liability. And if you have run out of telephone calls from custody, bail bondsmen can contact your loved ones on your behalf.
Consider Community Bail Funds
There are several community bail funds available in the State of California, which are designed to set aside funds specifically for defendants to post bail. In most cases, you will have to be a member of a group or community to use this. When eligible, though, it can be the financial safety net needed to secure a release from jail in lieu of independent funding.
In many cases, eligible parties will avoid all fees when taking this path.
Choose Alternatives to Custody
Finally, you should remember that posting bail isn’t the only solution. It may be possible to arrange a release on Own Recognizance. While it does mean that you will be out of custody, there will be restrictions on your movements as well as ongoing monitoring.
Another option is to remain in custody until the date of your trial. Under the Right to a Speedy Trial, yours can start within 30 days for a misdemeanor or 60 days for a felony. However, when combined with the trial itself, this can be quite a long time and cause significant problems in your personal and professional life.
Learn More About Your Options Now
Even if you can’t find a cosigner following an arrest in California, there are several options to consider. However, you will naturally want to secure your release ASAP so that you can resume your daily life and prepare for the trial.
With this in mind, calling a licensed and experienced bail bondsman is highly advised. Contact Balboa Bonds to discuss your bail bond options, with or without a cosigner, now.
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