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Category Archives: Affordable Bail Bonds Rocky Mount, VA

What Happens To Your Money After Bail Is Posted

If you or a loved one has been arrested, you are probably familiar with how the bail bond process works. Once a defendant is processed and booked, a judge will review the charges against them to determine the appropriate bail amount. This bail amount will change depending on the past history of the person arrested, as well as the risk of flight, and the crime. No matter how much the bail is, the purpose of this money is to give incentive for the arrested person to return on the designated court dates.

If the defendant is unable to come up with the funds for bail or if the court requires a surety bond, then they will need to seek bail bond services. A bail bond company can provide the amount of money needed for bail, for a percentage based fee that is between eight and 10 percent of the total bail amount.

What Happens To Your Money After Bail Is Posted?

Many people often wonder what happens to the money that is used for bail. Once bail has been paid for a defendant, there is a lot of work that takes place behind the scenes. The court will hold the the specified amount of money until the defendant has attended and completed all scheduled hearings. If the defendant shows up to court when they are supposed to and is exonerated of any charges the money is then returned to them. If they used a bail bond company to pay bail, funds will not be returned to them, but rather the bail bond company. Additionally, the defendant won’t get back the that they paid for the bail bond services.

Failure to show up to the court hearings will result in a warrant that is issued for the defendants arrest and their claim to the money — if they used their own funds — is forfeited and is kept by the courts. Bail is a tool that the court uses to guarantee a defendant returns to court to face the charges against them.

Learn More About Bail Bonds in Rocky Mount

The bail bond process can be confusing if you don’t have the proper knowledge of the legal system. If you or a loved one is arrested, paying set bail amount is the best way to get out of jail fast. If you don’t have enough funds to cover the posted amount, it is worth considering contacting a bail bond company to get the bail amount paid quickly.

At Affordable Bail Bonding, we take pride in offering fast, affordable bail bond services in Rocky Mount, VA and the surrounding areas. We know that spending time behind bars is stressful, and that is why we our experienced bail bondsmen are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to help you get out of jail quickly. If you are in need of bail bonds in Rocky Mount over the surrounding areas, contact the team at Affordable Bail Bonding today!

What Happens To Your Money After Bail Is Posted

If you or a loved one has been arrested, you are probably familiar with how the bail bond process works. Once a defendant is processed and booked, a judge will review the charges against them to determine the appropriate bail amount. This bail amount will change depending on the past history of the person arrested, as well as the risk of flight, and the crime. No matter how much the bail is, the purpose of this money is to give incentive for the arrested person to return on the designated court dates.

If the defendant is unable to come up with the funds for bail or if the court requires a surety bond, then they will need to seek bail bond services. A bail bond company can provide the amount of money needed for bail, for a percentage based fee that is between eight and 10 percent of the total bail amount.

What Happens To Your Money After Bail Is Posted?

Many people often wonder what happens to the money that is used for bail. Once bail has been paid for a defendant, there is a lot of work that takes place behind the scenes. The court will hold the the specified amount of money until the defendant has attended and completed all scheduled hearings. If the defendant shows up to court when they are supposed to and is exonerated of any charges the money is then returned to them. If they used a bail bond company to pay bail, funds will not be returned to them, but rather the bail bond company. Additionally, the defendant won’t get back the that they paid for the bail bond services.

Failure to show up to the court hearings will result in a warrant that is issued for the defendants arrest and their claim to the money — if they used their own funds — is forfeited and is kept by the courts. Bail is a tool that the court uses to guarantee a defendant returns to court to face the charges against them.

Learn More About Bail Bonds in Rocky Mount

The bail bond process can be confusing if you don’t have the proper knowledge of the legal system. If you or a loved one is arrested, paying set bail amount is the best way to get out of jail fast. If you don’t have enough funds to cover the posted amount, it is worth considering contacting a bail bond company to get the bail amount paid quickly.

At Affordable Bail Bonding, we take pride in offering fast, affordable bail bond services in Rocky Mount, VA and the surrounding areas. We know that spending time behind bars is stressful, and that is why we our experienced bail bondsmen are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to help you get out of jail quickly. If you are in need of bail bonds in Rocky Mount over the surrounding areas, contact the team at Affordable Bail Bonding today!

What You Need To Know About Blood Alcohol Levels In Virginia

There is nothing wrong with enjoying alcoholic beverages, as long as you ensure that you don’t overdo it or have a designated driver ready to ensure you don’t get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. As you already know, when you drink beer, wine, cocktails, and other adult beverages, alcohol enters your bloodstream. The amount of alcohol found in your bloodstream is indicative of how much you have had to drink. The more alcohol in your blood, the higher your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) will be, and the more your judgment is impaired. Like all states, the state of Virginia has laws that put a limit on the amount of alcohol that can be found in your bloodstream while operating a vehicle. These laws are designed to protect the public from drunk drivers. 

In this blog, we’ll share some important information you need to know regarding blood alcohol limits in Virginia and the consequences that come with a drunk driving charge.

What Is The Blood Alcohol Limit in Virginia?

The blood alcohol level in Virginia depends on your age as well as the type of license you have. Drivers who are under 21 can be charged with a DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated) even with a small amount of alcohol in their system, ranging from 0.00 to 0.02 percent BAC. For drivers of commercial vehicles in the state, the percentage of alcohol that a driver is allowed to have in their blood while operating a vehicle is 0.04 percent. All other drivers are held to a 0.08 percent limit. 

How Much Alcohol Can You Drink While Staying Under The Legal Limit?

The conventional ruling suggests that one drink can be had per hour to stay within the legal limit to drive. While this is a good rule of thumb, it is not always accurate. A person’s blood-alcohol level is determined by other factors than just the number of drinks consumed in a certain time. A person’s weight, how much they’ve eaten, their gender, and how quickly drinks are consumed all affect BAC levels. You can find a variety of blood alcohol calculators online or handheld breathalyzers that can be used to calculate your BAC, but these aren’t always the most accurate. This is why the best approach to drinking and driving involves using a designated driver.

What Happens When You’re Arrested For Drunk Driving in Virginia?

If pulled over for drunk driving and your BAC is over the legal limit, you will be arrested and taken to jail. For most DUI charges, a bail amount will be posted. Paying the posted bail amount will allow the defendant to get out of jail — the paid amount (minus fees) will be returned to the defendant after they appear for their court date. If the defendant does not have the money to post their own bail, they can get the money from a reputable bail bond company. Some of the consequences that come with drunk driving charges include license revocation, jail time for community service, and heavy fines. 

Trust Affordable Bail Bonding For DUI Bail Bonds in Rocky Mount

If you or a loved one is arrested for drunk driving, you can get the bail money you need by contacting Affordable Bail Bonding. We have experience dealing with bail bonds for DUI & DWI charges in the state of Virginia. To learn more, contact us!

 

What You Need To Know About Blood Alcohol Levels In Virginia

There is nothing wrong with enjoying alcoholic beverages, as long as you ensure that you don’t overdo it or have a designated driver ready to ensure you don’t get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. As you already know, when you drink beer, wine, cocktails, and other adult beverages, alcohol enters your bloodstream. The amount of alcohol found in your bloodstream is indicative of how much you have had to drink. The more alcohol in your blood, the higher your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) will be, and the more your judgment is impaired. Like all states, the state of Virginia has laws that put a limit on the amount of alcohol that can be found in your bloodstream while operating a vehicle. These laws are designed to protect the public from drunk drivers. 

In this blog, we’ll share some important information you need to know regarding blood alcohol limits in Virginia and the consequences that come with a drunk driving charge.

What Is The Blood Alcohol Limit in Virginia?

The blood alcohol level in Virginia depends on your age as well as the type of license you have. Drivers who are under 21 can be charged with a DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated) even with a small amount of alcohol in their system, ranging from 0.00 to 0.02 percent BAC. For drivers of commercial vehicles in the state, the percentage of alcohol that a driver is allowed to have in their blood while operating a vehicle is 0.04 percent. All other drivers are held to a 0.08 percent limit. 

How Much Alcohol Can You Drink While Staying Under The Legal Limit?

The conventional ruling suggests that one drink can be had per hour to stay within the legal limit to drive. While this is a good rule of thumb, it is not always accurate. A person’s blood-alcohol level is determined by other factors than just the number of drinks consumed in a certain time. A person’s weight, how much they’ve eaten, their gender, and how quickly drinks are consumed all affect BAC levels. You can find a variety of blood alcohol calculators online or handheld breathalyzers that can be used to calculate your BAC, but these aren’t always the most accurate. This is why the best approach to drinking and driving involves using a designated driver.

What Happens When You’re Arrested For Drunk Driving in Virginia?

If pulled over for drunk driving and your BAC is over the legal limit, you will be arrested and taken to jail. For most DUI charges, a bail amount will be posted. Paying the posted bail amount will allow the defendant to get out of jail — the paid amount (minus fees) will be returned to the defendant after they appear for their court date. If the defendant does not have the money to post their own bail, they can get the money from a reputable bail bond company. Some of the consequences that come with drunk driving charges include license revocation, jail time for community service, and heavy fines. 

Trust Affordable Bail Bonding For DUI Bail Bonds in Rocky Mount

If you or a loved one is arrested for drunk driving, you can get the bail money you need by contacting Affordable Bail Bonding. We have experience dealing with bail bonds for DUI & DWI charges in the state of Virginia. To learn more, contact us!

 

How Long Does It Take to Get Released After Bail Is Set?

When a loved one is arrested, there are likely a lot of questions that are racing through your head. One of the most common questions people wonder is how long it will take for their loved one to be released from jail after the bail amount is posted.

If you are unfamiliar with how the bail bond process works, there are a few steps that need to happen before the bail amount is posted. First, following an arrest, the victim is taken to jail to be booked and processed. Next, a judge will review the charges the victim is being face along with other important pieces of information to determine the bail amount. The purpose of setting bail is to ensure that the defendant is present at their court hearing without necessarily having to keep the defendant in police custody. Typically, the bail amount is set high enough so that the defendant will not simply forfeit the posted amount and disappear.

How Long Does It Take To Get Released Once Bail Is Posted?

Once the bail amount is posted, there are many different factors that can determine how long it takes a defendant to get out of jail. For starters, how quickly the amount is paid has the biggest influence on when the victim is released. There are a few ways that the posted bail can be paid. One way is for the defendant or a loved one to pay the amount in full using cash or check. This is not always the most ideal option as bail amounts are usually pretty steep. Another option is to use collateral for bail. This can be a house, vehicle, or other piece of property. This isn’t the most ideal choice, as the process is complicated and can take up to three weeks to complete. Lastly, the most common way to pay for bail is by using a bail bond service.

Receiving bail bonds for a reputable bail bond company is one of the most effective ways to get out of jail faster. Once a defendant fills out the bonding paperwork and gets their application approved, the bail bondsman will work on getting the money together for bail. They will then work directly with the jail to provide the payment for the bond. The application and completed payment to jail can take a few hours to complete, but this is faster than using collateral to pay bail.

How Long Does It Take To Get Released Once Bail Is Paid?

There are many different factors that can play into how long it takes a defendant to get out of jail once bail has been paid. Unfortunately, this is something that cannot be controlled by a bail bond company or any of the family and friends of the defendant. This is a process that is handled by the jail the defendant is being held at. It can take a few hours up to a day depending on how busy the jail is, how quickly the payment is processed, and if there are any other issues that are delaying a release. While the speed of your release is unpredictable, in most cases, the quicker you are able to make your bond payment the quicker the process will be to be released.

Need Bail Bonds In Rocky Mount?

If you are in need of bail bond services in Rocky Mount, VA and the surrounding areas, or have further questions about the bail bond process, contact our experienced bondsmen today!

Rocky Mount Bail Bonds FAQs

Here at Affordable Bail Bonding, we understand that the bail bonds process can feel a little bit intimidating and overwhelming for those who are not familiar with it. If you or your loved one has been arrested, you’re likely to have many questions about the process, but rest assured that our experienced bondsmen are here to help you every step of the way. Continue reading below to find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the bail process and then contact our team to request bail bonds in Rocky Mount today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bail Bonds

How Do Bail Bonds Work?

This is one of the most common questions that we receive. The bail bonds process is really quite straightforward and easy to understand. In just a few quick and simple steps, you or your loved one can get the process of posting bail started. First, we’ll gather the information we need to complete the bonding paperwork. We’ll also collect 10% of the full bail amount from you as a non-refundable bail premium. Once we have secured the bond, we’ll pay the full bail amount to the Court so that you or your loved one can be released from jail. For more information, visit our How It Works page.

Ready to get out of jail

What Determines the Amount of Bail?

There are many factors that the magistrate will consider as they are reviewing a case to set bail. They will consider the nature and seriousness of the charges the accused is facing as well as whether or not they are a flight risk. Criminal history, family and community ties, physical and mental health, and the accused’s standing with the local court system are also considered. There may be some instances in which bail is denied altogether, such as in the case of capital charges, violent crimes, and other grievous offenses.

How Long Does It Take to Get Out of Jail?

We get this question a lot too, and for good reason. When you or a loved one has been detained by the police, you want to get out of jail as quickly as possible. If the bail is set low enough and you can pay it on your own, or if the magistrate lets you out on personal recognizance, you may be able to get out of jail the same day you are arrested. However, if you need the help of a bondsman, the process takes a bit longer because they have to gather information to file the bonding paperwork to secure the bond to post bail. Our experienced bondsmen can complete the bonding paperwork in as little as 15 minutes. Unfortunately, we can’t control the jail’s timeline.

What Happens If My Loved One Misses Their Court Date?

The penalties for missing a court date are significant, so you or your loved one should make sure that you attend your hearing after you are bailed out of jail. If you miss it, you could incur $2,500 in fines and anywhere from one to five years in prison. A warrant will be issued for you or your loved one’s arrest. If the accused doesn’t surrender within a certain amount of time (usually 90 days), then the bail amount is forfeited along with any collateral that was put up for the bond. That means that you or your loved one will be indebted to the bail bondsman for the full amount of the bail. Between the fines and legal trouble associated with skipping bail, it’s just not worth it.

What Information Do I Need to Get Started?

To request assistance from a bail bonds company, you only need a few essential pieces of information to get started. These include:

  • The name and date of birth of the individual arrested
  • The name of the jail they are being held at
  • The bail amount
  • The charges they are facing

If you don’t have all of this information, please call us anyway. We have extensive experience providing bail bonds in Rocky Mount and we can likely help you track down the information we need to get the bonding paperwork started.

Questions About Bail Bonds in Rocky Mount?

Do you have questions about bail bonds in Rocky Mount? If so, contact Affordable Bail Bonding right away. We are happy to explain the bail bonds process to you and answer all of the questions you have about bail premium, collateral, and other details. We are your go-to source for experienced bondsmen and affordable bail bonds in Rocky Mount and the surrounding area and we’ll do everything in our power to help restore you or your loved one’s freedom as quickly as possible. Request bail bonds from our team today.

5 Ways You Can Make Your Situation Worse After An Arrest

Have you recently been arrested? If so, we are here to help you with affordable bail bonds in Rocky Mount. We will work with you to ensure that you can post bail in a fast manner. We know that you don’t want to spend time sitting in jail, which is why we work around the clock to assist those who have been arrested.

After an arrest, there are certain things you can do that will actually make your situation worse. While you can’t undo what has already been done, you can focus on these five things to avoid doing post-arrest.

#1: Get Into Further Trouble

Sometimes life just happens and you find yourself on the wrong side of the law. After this occurs, the best thing you can do is to clean up your act. Getting into further trouble with the law after a previous arrest spells extra trouble.

When you are only facing one charge, a defense lawyer can help you build a strong case for your upcoming trial. However, you will make your lawyer’s job extremely difficult if you wind up committing another crime between now and your court date.

Further trouble can also mean that the original charges you are facing increase in their severity. If you know there are certain people that lead you into trouble, avoid them while you wait for your court date. If specific places tempt you, don’t go there.

A great example would be if you were arrested for drinking and driving. While you wait for your court date, don’t go to bars or other places where you might be tempted to commit the same offense again.

#2: Ignore Stipulations Provided To You

In many cases, if you are granted bail, you are going to be provided a list of rules and regulations you must abide by while you wait for trial. If this is the case, be sure you obey them fully. Never ignore these stipulations. Doing so could land you right back into jail. It will also make it much harder for your lawyer to defend you. A judge will see your breaking of the rules as a sign that you are not truly sorry and that you are probably going to be a repeat offender.

Similar to the example above, in many cases, a charge that involves alcohol will result in stipulations about the use of alcohol if you bail out of jail. You might be required to abstain from drinking until your sentence.

Another example would be that you are not allowed to go near a specific person or place. Whatever the case, obey these orders.

#3: Avoid Preparing For Court

When something is unpleasant, we tend to want to avoid it entirely. It is in our nature to flee difficulties. However, avoiding your upcoming court date isn’t going to do you any favors.

Trying to pretend like a bad situation doesn’t exist will only cause you more trouble in the long run. Face the issue head on. Hire a good defense attorney who will be able to put together an aggressive fight for you. Recognize the situation you are in and do your best to make the most of it.

#4: Give Up On Responsibilities

Being arrested can put you in a bad head space. Perhaps you feel like a failure. Maybe you are consumed with worry about your future. Whatever the case, the last thing you should do is give into despair and give up on your responsibilities.

While it might not be easy, once you are back home, return to your usual life. Keep going to work. Keep paying bills. Don’t neglect your health.

#5: Not Post Bail

Perhaps one of the mistakes we are most passionate about is not posting bail. Too often we see people in our community drop out of their normal lives due to an arrest. In many cases, this is because they simply can’t afford bail.

The good news is that we are here to help. We offer affordable bail bonds in Rocky Mount. Our goal is to assist you with the bail process to ensure that you have access to quick bail.

Posting bail is important because it allows you to return home and prepare for court. If you stay behind bars, you can’t hold down your job. You also can’t spend time focusing on your upcoming court date. Sitting in jail isn’t good for anyone, which is why if you have the chance to do so, post bail! Contact us night or day for help posting bail.

5 Ways You Can Make Your Situation Worse After An Arrest

Have you recently been arrested? If so, we are here to help you with affordable bail bonds in Rocky Mount. We will work with you to ensure that you can post bail in a fast manner. We know that you don’t want to spend time sitting in jail, which is why we work around the clock to assist those who have been arrested.

After an arrest, there are certain things you can do that will actually make your situation worse. While you can’t undo what has already been done, you can focus on these five things to avoid doing post-arrest.

#1: Get Into Further Trouble

Sometimes life just happens and you find yourself on the wrong side of the law. After this occurs, the best thing you can do is to clean up your act. Getting into further trouble with the law after a previous arrest spells extra trouble.

When you are only facing one charge, a defense lawyer can help you build a strong case for your upcoming trial. However, you will make your lawyer’s job extremely difficult if you wind up committing another crime between now and your court date.

Further trouble can also mean that the original charges you are facing increase in their severity. If you know there are certain people that lead you into trouble, avoid them while you wait for your court date. If specific places tempt you, don’t go there.

A great example would be if you were arrested for drinking and driving. While you wait for your court date, don’t go to bars or other places where you might be tempted to commit the same offense again.

#2: Ignore Stipulations Provided To You

In many cases, if you are granted bail, you are going to be provided a list of rules and regulations you must abide by while you wait for trial. If this is the case, be sure you obey them fully. Never ignore these stipulations. Doing so could land you right back into jail. It will also make it much harder for your lawyer to defend you. A judge will see your breaking of the rules as a sign that you are not truly sorry and that you are probably going to be a repeat offender.

Similar to the example above, in many cases, a charge that involves alcohol will result in stipulations about the use of alcohol if you bail out of jail. You might be required to abstain from drinking until your sentence.

Another example would be that you are not allowed to go near a specific person or place. Whatever the case, obey these orders.

#3: Avoid Preparing For Court

When something is unpleasant, we tend to want to avoid it entirely. It is in our nature to flee difficulties. However, avoiding your upcoming court date isn’t going to do you any favors.

Trying to pretend like a bad situation doesn’t exist will only cause you more trouble in the long run. Face the issue head on. Hire a good defense attorney who will be able to put together an aggressive fight for you. Recognize the situation you are in and do your best to make the most of it.

#4: Give Up On Responsibilities

Being arrested can put you in a bad head space. Perhaps you feel like a failure. Maybe you are consumed with worry about your future. Whatever the case, the last thing you should do is give into despair and give up on your responsibilities.

While it might not be easy, once you are back home, return to your usual life. Keep going to work. Keep paying bills. Don’t neglect your health.

#5: Not Post Bail

Perhaps one of the mistakes we are most passionate about is not posting bail. Too often we see people in our community drop out of their normal lives due to an arrest. In many cases, this is because they simply can’t afford bail.

The good news is that we are here to help. We offer affordable bail bonds in Rocky Mount. Our goal is to assist you with the bail process to ensure that you have access to quick bail.

Posting bail is important because it allows you to return home and prepare for court. If you stay behind bars, you can’t hold down your job. You also can’t spend time focusing on your upcoming court date. Sitting in jail isn’t good for anyone, which is why if you have the chance to do so, post bail! Contact us night or day for help posting bail.

3 Tips For Making The Bail Process Fast In Rocky Mount

When it comes to posting bail and getting out of jail, you do not want anything to slow the process. No one wants to spend any more time behind bars than necessary, which is why you will probably do anything to speed up the bail process if possible.

Here at Affordable Bail Bonding, we understand how harrowing it can be to spend anymore time in jail than necessary. That is why we work to provide both fast and affordable bail bonds in Rocky Mount. We do our best to expedite the bail bond process.

If you are looking into posting bail, whether for yourself or for a loved one, we are here to help. Check out these three ways you can make the process faster and smoother. Contact us right away to get started on posting bail.

#1: Gather Information

The first thing to do, prior to posting bail, is to gather as much information about the situation as possible. This is particularly true if you are posting on behalf of a family member or friend.

Make sure you know the full name of the defendant, as well as their date of birth. Finding out the name of the jail where they are being held is ideal too. If you know what charges they are facing, this will help during the next steps. It can also be helpful to find out how much bail will cost and if there are any other terms on the release of you or your loved one.

The more information you have about the situation, the faster the rest of the process will go. A lack of info can hold up your bail agent and can require further research to be done. If there are certain pieces of information you cannot find, don’t fret. You can still carry on to the next tip.

#2: Call A Bail Bondsman

Your best bet for posting fast bail is to contact a bail bondsman. They are experienced in the bail process, which means they can handle the situation quickly and effectively. In many cases, trying to post bail on your own will only result in frustration and a loss of time. Often, there is no way you will be able to afford bail on your own. When you try to tackle it first by yourself, you will wind up needing to call a bail bond agent down the road.

Contact a reputable bail bondsman and provide them with as much information as possible. The sooner you call a bail bondsman the sooner you or your loved one can be released. Most bail bond agents are on call 24/7, so there is no reason to wait to reach out for help.

#2: Listen Closely To Your Bail Agent

If you want the bail process to go quickly and smoothly, be sure you listen carefully to your bail bondsman. Make sure that if they are asking you to do anything, you complete those tasks right away. Generally speaking, your bail agent will usually just need information from you and might need you to come sign paperwork in their office.

Whatever they ask of you, carefully listen to their instructions. If you are posting bail on behalf of a loved one, keep in mind that they are counting on you. Any delay can mean more time spent uncomfortably behind bars.

#3: Pay The Bail Fee Right Away

One task you will definitely need to undertake is paying your bail fee right away. Your bail bondsman cannot go forward without this payment.

If you are struggling to find a way to pay for the bail bond, talk to your bail agent. They might be able to provide you with financing options. You can also reach out to other family or friends for help making the total bail payment. Do whatever you can to make this portion of the process efficient.

Contact Our Team For Fast, Affordable Bail

Posting bail should be simple and fast. There is no reason that anyone should spend more time behind bars than necessary. If you are looking for fast, affordable bail bonds in Rocky Mount, please reach out to our team. We are on call, day or night, so the sooner you call us, the sooner we can get to work for you. We look forward to helping you get your freedom back.

Should I Co-Sign For Bail? Important Considerations

In many cases, you can acquire a bail bond on your own. With the right financing, it is not necessary for you to call upon a co-signer. However, there are situations where having a co-signer is a must.

Perhaps you were recently asked by a loved one for help posting bail. You might be in the position of being that co-signer. Here at Affordable Bail Bonding, we provide the resources needed to post bail on behalf of someone you love. If you are looking for affordable bail bonds in Rocky Mount, we are the team to call.

If someone you care about has asked you to be their co-signer for bail, take time to carefully consider your next steps. Being a co-signer can be a great gift for the person you love, however, there are factors to think about. Check out the following tips on whether or not you should co-sign for bail, and reach out to our team for help at any point.

Understand Your Responsibility

Before you sign on the dotted line and help your loved one post bail, make sure you understand what your responsibilities as a co-signer are. Helping someone secure a bail bond is a wonderful action to take on their behalf, however, it does put you in a role of responsibility.

When you co-sign for a bail bond, you are taking on a fair amount of risk. If the defendant — the person who has been arrested — does not show up for their court date, you will be held responsible for the full bail amount. This can also lead to the loss of any collateral that you put down to secure the bail bond.

For this reason, you need to think about what you will do if the person you are vouching for skips out on bail. Do you have the funds to handle that situation? What collateral are you willing to risk? Beyond that, you need to think about how much of a risk banking on this person is, which leads us to the next point.

Consider The Person

In many situations, there is no reason to hesitate to co-sign for a loved one. Perhaps you know your child, spouse, or friend extremely well. They are a reliable person who found themselves in a difficult situation. In this case, you are not worried in the slightest about their commitment to show up to court.

Because you are taking on a lot of risk, make sure you know the person you are co-signing for well. Do you trust that they will do their part and show up to court? If you have any doubts, consider talking to them. Make sure they understand your position in the deal as well. Let them know that when you co-sign for them, you are taking on risk. Try to gauge how seriously they take the situation.

Create An Accountability Plan

Helping a loved one secure a bail bond is truly a wonderful thing to do. You are allowing them to return home to their life, responsibilities, and family. If you choose to co-sign, once they are released from jail, sit down and create an accountability plan with them.

Remind your loved one that showing up to court is a requirement, not an option. Talk to them about how you can help them stick to this commitment. Perhaps you will be the one to drive them to court. Maybe having your presence there will help calm their fears. Remind them that facing their trial is the best thing they can do. Fleeing their court date will only put you and them in a bad situation.

Help Your Loved One Prepare

Another great way to ensure that your loved one shows up to court and doesn’t leave you on the line for their bail amount is to help them prepare with an attorney for their trial. Having a quality defense lawyer on their side can help ease their worries. Knowing that a lawyer will be fighting for their rights can help encourage them to show up to court.

If you are considering co-signing for a bail bond, contact us at Affordable Bail Bonding. We will work with you to secure affordable bail bonds in Rocky Mount. Our goal is to assist you in returning your loved one home as quickly as possible. We will be happy to answer any questions you have about co-signing for bail.