Bail Bonds Explained.
Here’s How Bail Bonds Work in California:
From the California Bail Bonds Association
How to get a bail bond?
Fast Out Bail Bond Agents arrange the bail bond for you. You can typically get a bail bond approval in minutes. Depending on how much the bond is, we may ask for collateral to secure the bond.
What typically happens to the person once they’ve been arrested?
When a person is arrested, they are taken to a holding facility – usually a police department or a county jail. Once they are processed, the bail amount is set and the person is made aware of their legal rights. The person is released on bail once the bail is paid, either by cash, or through posting a bail bond.
How can bail be paid?
There are two ways to pay bail. You can pay the full amount of the bail, or buy a bail bond.
A bail bond is a guarantee that you will appear in court. You pay a bondsman to post the bondt, and the court keeps the bond in case you fail to appear in court. A bail bond typically costs 10% of the bond, and is nonrefundable.
In some cases, you may required to assign collateral. This means that you (or the person who pays for your bail bond) must give the bond company a guarantee using some of your valuable property. The bond seller can cash-in this interest if you fail to appear in court. We may be able to arrange a short-term loan if you are unable to come up with this amount. (Our fees are among the lowest in Southern California)
The bail bond may need to be collateralized with using assets that you might have, credit or cash. Sometimes, collateral isn’t needed… it’s called a signature bond, which means that we trust you without the need for the backing of assets to secure the bail bond.
What am I agreeing to in the bail contract?
You are agreeing to:
- Pay the premium for the bond.
- Provide required collateral.
- Pay actual, necessary and reasonable expenses the bail agent incurs to provide the bail bond.
- Payment of the bond amount for the defendant’s failure to appear.
- Bounty agent/skip tracer expenses.
- Attorney fees and court costs.
- Keep the bail agent advised of changes of the defendant address/employment.
- Aid the bail agent/skip tracers in locating the defendant.
How long is a bail bond good for, and is there a way to reduce the amount?
The bail bond is good for the length of the case that is being bonded. The bail bond premium is not refundable.
Who decides how much bail I have to pay?
Judges set bail. Most jails have standard bail schedules for common crimes.
How Do I check a bail agent’s license?
Click here for license status. Don not deal with a bail bondsman that approaches you in jail. This is not legal.
Do All Bail Bonds Agents Charge the Same Fee?
Bail Agents are licensed by the Department of Insurance (D.O.I.) within the state. The state regulates the rate at a maximum of 10%.
What information should I have before I contact the bail agent?
A. Where is the person in custody? Make sure that you ask the person in custody where they are located (city, state and name of jail).
B. What is the full name and booking number of the person in jail? We can get the booking number for you if you don’t have that information.
C. How much is the bail? The bail agent will get this information if you do not have it. With the bail amount the agent can tell you the amount it will cost to post a bond and get the person out of jail.
A bail bond – a surety and pledge money, or property as bail – is given by a bail bond agent, or bondsman, which guarantees the appearance of a criminal defendant in court. Bail bond agents help criminal defendants, often securing their customers’ release in just a few hours.
