If you find yourself in serious legal trouble leading to an arrest, probably the only thing on your mind is how to get out of jail and how soon it can happen. Or you might get a call in the middle of the night from a friend or family member who has been arrested and wants you to bail them out. Many people would not even know what to do first. Most have watched enough television to know it will cost money to free someone and that a bail bondsman is the person to call.
How much you will have to pay to free the person depends on the charges brought against him or her. You will probably be required to come up with about ten percent of the total bond fee which must usually be paid in the form of cash. The bonding agent pays the court for you. Setting bail is the system courts use to ensure the accused shows up in court on the day of the case.
You may wonder what these people have to do to go into the bail business. Different states have different requirements but most make individuals take a class on the subject, pass an exam, and apply for a license before they can go into business. Background checks and fingerprinting are usually included in the process.
Anyone eighteen years or older can post bond for someone. You can also use your house or car as collateral if you choose to do so, but you need to keep in mind if you do that and the person doesn't appear in court, the court can have your asset repossessed and sold. Bond money can't be used as a write off on your taxes, and you probably won't get it back later.
If the accused leaves town and doesn't appear in court, the court will issue a warrant for his or her arrest. After that the court has several options. The accused can be arrested by law enforcement, by someone authorized and licensed, or by a private investigator.
If a bondsman decides to go after you, they usually use the services of a surety recovery agent, or bounty hunter. Not everyone knows such people really exist outside movies and television shows, but they do. It might seem like an exciting and adventurous job to some. They might even be interested in learning what it takes to become one.
Requirements vary from state to state. In some places you really don't have to do anything but get the bondsman to hire you and tell you what to do and where to go. In other areas it is a felony to operate as a bounty hunter without a license. These individuals are paid a percentage of the bail money. How many cases they handle a year depends entirely on them, but most work on more than a hundred.
In a perfect world no one would need the services of a bondsman. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having to post bond however, knowing how the process works will save you some time.
How much you will have to pay to free the person depends on the charges brought against him or her. You will probably be required to come up with about ten percent of the total bond fee which must usually be paid in the form of cash. The bonding agent pays the court for you. Setting bail is the system courts use to ensure the accused shows up in court on the day of the case.
You may wonder what these people have to do to go into the bail business. Different states have different requirements but most make individuals take a class on the subject, pass an exam, and apply for a license before they can go into business. Background checks and fingerprinting are usually included in the process.
Anyone eighteen years or older can post bond for someone. You can also use your house or car as collateral if you choose to do so, but you need to keep in mind if you do that and the person doesn't appear in court, the court can have your asset repossessed and sold. Bond money can't be used as a write off on your taxes, and you probably won't get it back later.
If the accused leaves town and doesn't appear in court, the court will issue a warrant for his or her arrest. After that the court has several options. The accused can be arrested by law enforcement, by someone authorized and licensed, or by a private investigator.
If a bondsman decides to go after you, they usually use the services of a surety recovery agent, or bounty hunter. Not everyone knows such people really exist outside movies and television shows, but they do. It might seem like an exciting and adventurous job to some. They might even be interested in learning what it takes to become one.
Requirements vary from state to state. In some places you really don't have to do anything but get the bondsman to hire you and tell you what to do and where to go. In other areas it is a felony to operate as a bounty hunter without a license. These individuals are paid a percentage of the bail money. How many cases they handle a year depends entirely on them, but most work on more than a hundred.
In a perfect world no one would need the services of a bondsman. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having to post bond however, knowing how the process works will save you some time.
About the Author:
When you are in need of some advice from a bail bondsman in Everett, WA, the best thing you can do is to take a look at our website. Follow the link and view the page on http://duimonitoringandbail.com.
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