When a person is arrested, they are typically given a bail amount that can be paid to secure their release until their hearings are completed. This is meant to allow them to continue to work while they seek help for the case against them. In many cases, the amount of bail may be more than the person can afford. When this happens, a friend or family member can help them by obtaining a bail bond.

How to Obtain a Bail Bond

Bail bonds are obtained through a bail bondsman who will accept a percentage of the bail amount or something to use as collateral to secure the bond. The collateral might be the title to a home, car, or boat, or another item of sufficient value to cover the amount of the bail. The percentage of the bail amount is typically 10%, but can be as high as 15% for a Federal bail bond. The percentage is set by federal guidelines. Once the bondsman has the payment or collateral, they will pay the full amount of the bail to the jail and the person can be released as soon as it is processed. So long as the terms of the bond are followed, the bondsman will receive their money back and the person will not owe anything further.

Risks if Terms Are Not Followed

A person who signs for a bail bond does need to be aware of what can happen if the terms of the bond are not followed. Typically, the terms will state the person cannot be arrested again before the hearings are complete and they must attend all of their hearings. If these terms are not followed, the bondsman will not receive their money back from the jail. This means the person who secured the bond will be responsible for repayment to the bondsman by paying the remaining percentage or by forfeiting the item they used as collateral. If the person could not afford the entire bail amount in the first place, this could lead to a financial hardship for the person who secured the bond. 

Helping a person obtain a bond so they can be released from jail can be a great way to support them through the case and give them the opportunity to hire and work with a lawyer for their defense. Unfortunately, there is a degree of risk when a person secures a bail bond. As long as the person understands the risks, they will be able to determine whether or not they want to help their friend or family member by securing a bond and assuming those risks. 

For more information, contact companies like A Bail Now Bail Bonds, Inc.