If you just found out that your loved one has been arrested, you probably have a lot of questions. Some of those questions might involve bail. If your loved one was arrested on a minor offense, they may not need to post bail. With minor offenses, people are often released on what is known as their own recognizance. If that happens, your loved one will be released from custody as soon as the paperwork has been processed. If your loved one has been charged with a serious offense, they'll need to post bail. There are two ways to do that. You can pay the total cash amount owed for the bail. Or, you can post a bail bond. Most people use a bail bond service. One of the benefits of a bail bond service is that the agent takes care of all the paperwork for you. Here are two things you need to know about bail bonds.
Bail Bonds Are Essential
If you're thinking about posting a bail bond, it's a good idea to reconsider. You may think that paying cash for bail will eliminate some of the paperwork and hassle. But you might actually be creating more hassle for yourself. This is especially true if you're paying cash for a high-priced bail. The court may want to know where the cash came from for the payment. Unfortunately, that means you could be forced to have your bank accounts and financial records investigated. Not only that, but all your cash will also be tied up by the courts until your loved one's trial is over. You can avoid those worries by using a bail bond service instead.
You're Applying for a Loan
When you apply for a bail bond, you're actually applying for a loan for the bail bond agency. During the application process, the bail bond agent has you provide about 10% of the total bail amount in collateral. You can do this with real or personal property. You can even have friends and family help with the collateral. Once you've provided the collateral, the bail bond agency pays the remaining bail amount to the courts. When the trial is over, you'll get your collateral back, and the bail bond agency will get their cash payment back. When that happens, the loan will be closed, and you'll have no further obligation to the bail bond agency.
If you need to bail your loved one out of jail, contact a bail bond agency near you. They can answer any questions you may have.
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