Options For Paying For Your Bail

When one of your loved ones has been arrested, the stress that follows can be immense. Making sure that you secure their freedom is often very high on your list of things that you have to accomplish, and for most that means posting bail.

Bail is an amount set by a court that allows defendants to pay down a sum of money as a kind of guarantee that they’ll show up in court when they’re supposed to. However, it’s often higher than most are able to pay out of pocket, and the more severe the crime or the lengthier the criminal history, the higher it will be. You do have some different options for posting bail, and knowing them is important.

If you can’t come up with the full amount on your own, a bail bondsman is your only real option. Here are the different ways you can use them to pay bail.

• Provide them with a premium down payment. This is usually 15% of the total bail amount set by the courts, though it could be lower in some instances. You’ll give them the percentage and they’ll post bail for the remainder for you.

• You could avoid the down payment entirely if you put up personal property as collateral. Then you’ll simply make monthly payments as scheduled until the percentage amount is repaid in full.

• If needed, you can use your credit card to pay the premium payment to the bail bondsman. Then you’ll just repay the credited amount.

• In cases with very high bail amounts, you might have to pay the premium and still provide collateral to the bail bondsman.

It’s important to understand that in most instances, your bond premium – that 15% sum – won’t be returned to you. This constitutes the fee the bondsman provides for their services, and as such they’ll keep it. However, it’s money well spent since your loved one will be out and free. Plus, it’s the responsibility of the bail bondsman to ensure that the defendant shows up in court – not yours. That helps alleviate some level of stress associated with the process.

Simply put, a bail bondsman can help you tremendously when you need them. Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn more about what we may be able to do for you and your loved one. With excellent rates and a knowledgeable team, we’re your best choice when you need to pay bail.