Bailing someone out is a major responsibility. It should not be taken lightly. Unexpectedly, many people are put into the position of helping a friend or a loved one. But, with the anxiety and quick timing wrapped around the bail process, many don’t take the time to understand the process. They don’t think about the responsibilities involved when signing a bail bond.

Many assume that their part of the process is over after they bail the loved one out of jail. But this is wrong. Remember, your responsibility doesn’t end long after you decide to bail someone out. If ever comes a time when you must bail a friend or loved one, it is essential to know what that means and what it can cost you.

Here are the top questions you need to ask yourself to ensure you make the right decision before bailing someone out.

• How well do you know the person?
• Do you trust the person who you are bailing out?
• Have they ever jumped from job to job or home to home?
• How long have you known them?
• Do they live out of state or have a family out of state?
• What is their work story?
• Do they have a stable job?

The above questions should be a major part of your decision when bailing someone out.

Bail bonds are also called surety bonds. They are used to release a defendant from jail. The bail bond is submitted to the jail. It is a ‘promise to make good’ that the defendant will go to court as promised. The bail bond company will only charge 10% of the bail amount, which makes it financially easier to bail your friends or loved ones.

Also, it is important to remember that the premium amount is non-refundable. The bail bond company earns the premium for the service rendered upon the defendant’s release. Even if the case dismisses or the charges are dropped, the bail premium paid to the bail bond company is always non-refundable.

The following are the responsibilities you will take when signing a bail bond contract.

1. The first and foremost responsibility is that you and the bail bond agency will ensure that the defendant appears at all his court hearings.

2. If the defendant fails to appear in court, you will be responsible for informing the bail bond agency. And also the responsibility of paying additional fees if the bail company had to hire an agent to bring back the defendant.

3. Finally, if the recovery agent cannot locate the defendant, you will be responsible for paying the entire amount of the bail originally set by the court. However, if the collateral was taken at the time of signing the contract, that will be used to pay the bail amount and will not be returned.

The ‘bench warrant is issued when someone fails to return to court. It is issued to arrest the defendant. They appoint a recovery agent to locate the person who skipped the bail. The bail amount will get forfeited.

Bottom line

Bail companies understand the reasons for not appearing in court. One may miss out on the court date sometime due to unavoidable circumstances. However, most don’t realize that these can be handled easily by the bail company with just a phone call to them as soon as the defendant misses the court date. Contact Acts Now Bail Bonds if you have any questions regarding the responsibilities involved when you are bailing someone out.