Seven Questions to ask a Potential Bail Bond Company

You hope that you never need to use a bond company. But if you do, there are a few things that you should ask them to make sure that you have the right one company for your needs. Below are seven questions that you can ask to help you get a good idea about whether a bond company is the right one.

How much do you charge?

The rate that the company is going to charge will be legally mandated from state to state. The company is going to charge you anywhere from 8 to 15% of the total amount of bail based on the state that you’re in. Make sure you’re cautious of any company offers for a good rates. It might mean they’re not operating legally and they’re not a company that’s reputable.

How quickly will you be able to get a person released?

The company is only able to control paperwork and the part of the release process that they take part in . The majority of bondsman will have pretty accurate time frames about when a defendant will be able to be released. Getting a person released from jail is often an unpredictable and slow process, so you want to be patient while waiting. The first thing the jail is going to be concerned about is safety.

What’s the process for a bail bond?

Professional companies should have no problem explaining the procedure effortlessly. Below is basically the way that the process will work:
The company is going to collect some general and basic information about the situation so that they can ask assess the bond’s risk factor. An example would be where the person is being held, their charges, the length of time they’ve lived where their current residence is, if they’re employed and where.

The customer will have to arrange payment and complete the bond documents so that the ba bond application, receipt and indemnity agreement are included.

The company will then post bail, and the defendant is going to be released.

Is your company licensed?

For example, California bondsman receives their licenses through California’s department of insurance. They’re also the only ones that are permitted legally for negotiating and posting bond. You want to make sure that you were only dealing with companies who have valid and current licenses and they’re in good standing. Ask to see the license and identification of the bail agent before giving them money and completing your transaction.

Where are you located?

Sometimes, a bondsman isn’t in the state where you live. When this happens, it might cost you a lot more money because of the posting fee, and that’s the fee when the bondsman may need to pay another one to post your bail. To expedite the processes and make sure you’re not paying anything extra, find a guarantor that’s within a distance that’s reasonable from the jail that is holding the person.

What’s the indemnitor’s responsibilities?

The Indemnitor is the person who bails a person out of jail, accepting the full responsibility that they are going to show up to their court date. If the person doesn’t appear, the indemnitor will be responsible for helping the bondsman find them. If they aren’t able to be found, the indemnitor has to pay the full bail amount. Most of the issues with bail bonds can be handled using a simple phone call.

What happens if the person doesn’t come to the court case?

This question can vary between bond companies, but the process is pretty much the same. There will be a warrant issued for their arrest, and they’re going to show up in the police bulletins as being a fugitive. The company is going to try locating the defendant through calling their home, their work, their references and instructing them to go to their hearing. If a defendant isn’t able to be located, the company might hire one of the bounty hunters for locating and arresting them.

Keep in mind that this process for a bail bond is going to vary between states. But when you understand these fundamental questions that you should ask a potential bond company, it will help you with making the right decision on which companies to choose to help you through a tough time in your life.