LINDA LEW ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT BAIL:


What is a bail bond?

A bail bond is a guarantee to the court from the bondsman, issued in the form of a bond, that a defendant will make all appearances in a particular case.
 

What is bail?

Bail is the amount a court requires before the release of a defendant can occur.

When you use a bondsman, bail is a 10% upfront, interest only loan.

You borrow money from a bondsman (the principal amount of the bail - the amount established by the court) and pay 10% interest to the bondsman for that loan.


What do I pay?

You pay 10% of the bail amount ($1,000 principal, bail amount - $100 premium/cost).

Sometimes the 10% fee is negotiable.

You pay the bondsman 10% for his services.

No portion of the premium is returned once the bail is posted.


Do I have to give the bondsman anything else?

The bondsman may ask you for collateral based on the amount of the bond, the crime and the circumstances of the case. 

Collateral can be in the form of real property, additional money or items of value such as jewelry and antiques.

You do receive your collateral back when the bail is exonerated (upon sentencing).  If the defendant does not comply with the terms and conditions of his bail, then the co-signer risks losing the collateral.
 

What are my risks?

A co-signer on a bail contract is promising to pay the bondsman the entire amount of bail if the defendant forfeits his bond.

A co-signer guarantees to the bondsman that the defendant will make his appearances to the court.  If the defendant fails to appear, the co-signer is liable to the bondsman for the entire amount of the bail.

The co-signer and the bondsman have several months in which to recover the defendant and return him to custody before actually having to pay the court's demand.

The bondsman is liable to the court; the co-signer is liable to the bondsman.

How long will it take?

The transaction takes about thirty minutes.

The bail will be delivered to the jail immediately upon receipt of payment and contract signing. 

The release process varies substantially, depending upon where the inmate is being held and can range anywhere from one or more hours.