When you hire a bail bondsman, you want to ensure that you are doing business with a responsible, reputable company. You want to ensure that you won’t be overcharged, and that when you pay your deposit — your bond will be posted promptly. You’ll also want to ensure that you can afford the fee, and understand the terms and conditions. In this blog, we will detail some important questions you may want to ask your bail bondsman. If you still have more inquiries, contact Affordable Bail Bonding for answers.
How Much Do They Charge?
There are plenty of choices out there when you’re deciding on a bail bondsman, so you want to make sure that you are getting a fair deal. The majority of bail bondsmen charge 10–15% of your bail as a charge for posting your bond. This is a non-refundable fee that you pay for rendering their services. If a bondsman quotes you on any percentage higher than this, you may want to shop around.
Are They Licensed?
In order to operate, a bail bondsman must be licensed by the state. In order to gain this license, they must meet certain qualifications, go through training courses, and pass an examination. This is important because these steps are taken for your protection. It ensures that they are upholding the requirements set by the state, and that as long as you follow through with your end, there shouldn’t be any issues. When you ask a bondsman about their licensing it should be easy for them to answer you and show proof. If they give you any explanation other than proof of their license — find a different bondsman.
Do They Require a Cosigner?
Sometimes bail bondsmen do require a cosigner, and this typically depends on the details of the arrest. If they do, this is not necessarily a deal breaker, it’s just good information to know. In the event that the defendant does not show up for court, the cosigner is responsible for the full amount of the bond, so you want to be sure of the conditions before moving forward.
What Types of Collateral Do They Accept?
On many occasions, collateral is not required when a bond is being posted for a common offense. However, when collateral is required, it is important to know what types your bail bondsman accepts. Types of collateral that may be accepted include: real property, vehicles in which you own the title, cash, credit cards, jewelry, and promissory notes. If collateral is going to be needed on your bond, you’ll want to know if they accept the type that you have to offer. If they don’t, another bondsman might, so inquire around.
How Quickly Will I or My Loved One be Released?
After providing all of the needed information to your bondsman, how long will it take them to file it and earn the defendants release from jail? A more experienced bondsman may have an advantage here because they know the system well. In typical state cases, you should expect the defendant to be released in about an hour. The waiting time on a federal case can take much longer, seeing as the facilities are larger, and things tend to take a little longer in larger facilities. In these cases, you can expect release to take up to 10 hours.
Call Affordable Bail Bonding if You or a Loved One Needs a Bond Posted
Affordable bail bonding is a licensed, affordable (obviously it’s right in the name) option for you to post bail in Chatham. You can ask us as many questions as you like until you’re comfortable that we are your best choice for a bail bondsman. Contact Affordable Bail Bonding today!