Bail Made Simple

When finding yourself in jail you likely want to resolve the situation as quickly and privately as possible.   Some people do not have anyone to post bail for them, or don’t want to involve friends or family members and may seek to post bail themselves.    It is uncommon for people to have the full cash bail to hand.   If this isn’t an option and a friend or family can’t pay the cash amount either your next option is a bail bond. If you are wondering whether you can post a bail bond yourself, the short answer is yes.   This does however depend on some circumstances. For example it must be a first offense. Some factors that affect your ability to post your own bail include:           How long you have lived in the area           Whether you have a stable job or not           Whether you are a homeowner (and your home’s value is equal to or greater than the total bail amount...

You may have experienced this or know someone who has. The phone rings at 3 in the morning. The caller is informing you your son was in a car accident. He tells you that he took a breathalyzer and was declared drunk. He was at fault and there are injuries. This is the second time this has happened. This is his second offence and bail has been set at $10,000. You call a bail bond agent to secure his release. You son is free for the time being but what are your responsibilities moving forward. After all, the ordeal isn’t over. In fact, it’s just begun. What are your obligations and responsibilities as someone who signs a bail contract?  First and foremost, you are responsible for making sure the defendant makes it to all court proceedings. You, along with the bail agency, are guaranteeing that the defendant makes all of his or her scheduled appearances. If the defendant misses a court date, you may be responsible for any additional fees and or costs.  Sometimes it i...