Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure you ask the person in custody where they are located, including the city, state, and name of the jail. Then, get the full name and booking number of the person in jail. The bail agent will need this information in order to contact the jail. The bail agent can get the booking number for you. Know what the amount of the bail is set at, so the bail bondsman can tell you the amount it will cost to post a bond and the requirements to get the person out of jail.
There are four ways in which a person may be released from custody. You can use a bondsman. You can post cash for the full amount of the bond with the court or the jail. You can use property (such as a home or a lot) with the court. Finally, the judge can decide to let you go on your recognizance.
There are a few exceptions to this, but you do not get the premium back that you paid to the bonding office. This fee is what allowed the defendant to get out of jail and is fully earned once the defendant is out of custody. For example, if the defendant gets rearrested a week later, you will not get a refund of any money or even a portion of it. If the bondsman fails to live up to his end of the contract, then and only then, you may be entitled to a refund of some kind.
There are remedies that can be done here. Contact the bondsman as soon as possible so that they can discuss your options in full detail with you.
You'll have to get permission from the bonding office in writing before attempting to do. If the court has given you direct instructions not to leave the state or country, you must then get permission from the bail agent and the court before leaving. Otherwise, you are subject to arrest.
Each bonding office will have its own standards, but for the most part, you can expect them to accept various forms of bail collateral. Some examples include:
- Real Estate
- Cars
- Credit Cards
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal Credit
- Bank Accounts
Once the defendant is back in custody, the bond can be surrendered, and your liability will be terminated. There are a few problems here: if you decide to surrender the bond, you will lose the premium that was paid, and if you decide to get the defendant out on bond again, you will now have to post two new bonds and pay the premium on both again.