Whether someone is guilty of committing a crime or has falsely been accused of one, spending time in jail is a likely consequence. After going to court for the charge, a judge will usually set a bail amount that the accused can pay to get released from jail. However, the bail amount can be too high for the accused to pay, which means that they would have to sit in jail until their case can be proved or an appointed amount of time has been served. Fortunately, there is still a way to get out of jail when the accused is unable to pay their bail amount. A bail bondsman is someone who can be contacted to get financial assistance with bail, but there are important things to know if you intend on receiving help from one.
You Will Only Need a Small Percent Upfront
If you are concerned because your bail amount is much larger than you can even consider paying, there is no need to stress about it. When you contact a bail bondsman, the entire amount of it can be paid on your behalf. However, the bondsman will want you to pay at least a small percentage of the money upfront, which is commonly around 10% but can be lower or slightly higher. If you are still unable to pay any money towards the bail amount, the bondsman might allow you to set up up a payment plan. Other options include asking loved ones to pay the small percentage or using valuable items as collateral.
Bail Bond Money Is Considered a Loan
If a bondsman agrees to bail you out of jail, keep in mind that it is considered a loan and must be paid back. When the money has to be paid back depends on what you agreed to when the contract was signed. If you neglect to pay back the loan, you might find that you are sued by the bail bondsman. A lawsuit can possibly lead to your paychecks being garnished until the loan amount is paid off. If any collateral was used, the bondsman can take possession of it to sell as a way to obtain payment of the loan.
Failure to Comply Can Lead to Jail
You will have to comply with certain rules after you are bailed out of jail by a bondsman. For example, the main rule is that you must show up for your court dates in regards to what you were charged with. If you fail to comply, a bondsman can find out where you are and make sure you are escorted back to jail. A judge can also demand that you are brought back to jail by issuing a warrant for your arrest.
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