3 Things To Know About Bail Bonds
Posted on: 28 September 2018
If you have been arrested, one of the first things that you are probably thinking of is how to get out of jail as soon as possible. Being arrested can have a major negative impact on your life. Not only are you potentially facing criminal charges, jail time, and fines, in many cases you have to make bail in order to be released. Bail is an amount of money set by a judge during a hearing shortly after your arrest. This amount is held by the court until your court date. If you show up, it's returned. If you are unable to afford the bail amount, bail bonds may be able to help. here are three things that you should know.
Bail Bonds Are Not Available In Every State
The first thing that you should be aware of is that bail bonds are not available in every state. If you live in Washington D.C., Kentucky, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Maine, Illinois, Oregon, or Wisconsin, you will have to find an alternate way of making bail. In these states you may need to borrow from friends or family or have them sign a signature bond if you are unable to put up the full amount of your bail.
Bail Bonds Cost Money
Another thing that you should be aware of is that bail bonds do cost money. How much they cost depends on your finances, the state you live in, and the bail bondsman services you choose. On average bail bonds cost around 10 percent of the value of the bail. You may also have to put up some property as collateral depending on the situation. If you pay the full amount of bail yourself, the entire amount is returned to you after you have been to court.
You May Be Able To Get Your Bail Lowered
If you find that getting a bail bond is going to be expensive, it's in your best interest to get the lowest bail amount possible. When the judge sets your bail, you can ask for the bail amount to be set lower. In many cases, the judge will set a lower bail if you meet certain requirements. In some cases you may even be able to be released on your own recognizance and won't have to put up bail at all.
Being arrested can be a major obstacle to your daily life. Getting out of jail and posting bail will likely be your main goal. If you are unable to afford the bail amount set by the judge, a bail bond may be the right option for you but there are a few things that you should know. Bail bonds are not available in all states. Costs can also vary but typically you will pay around 10 percent of the value of the bail. You may also be able to get the bail amount, and your bail bond cost, lowered.
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