Bail Bondsmen are in the business of helping you get out jail quickly. If you are involved in the unlikely situation where a friend of a loved one is arrested and in jail, they will most likely have to post bond in order to get out. Fortunately, we work with a number of professionals across the country who can help almost anyone get out quickly and safely. The information on this page will help to educate you on the typical process you should expect should you have bail someone out of jail.
When someone is arrested and in jail, they will most likely have to post a bond, commonly referred to as a surety bond, in order to be released. A surety bond is set by either the arresting agency or by a judge. When this happens, you either have to pay the entire bond amount or you will have to use a licensed bail bondsman to post the bond to get the detained person out of jail.
For example, if someone is arrested and the bond is set at $10,000, they would be responsible to pay the entire amount to get out if they choose not to use an agency. This is why it is very common for friends or family of the detained person to hire a professional to help out. Typically, the bail bondsman will ask for a percentage of the bond as a fee for their services. In North Carolina, the most any licensed agency can ask for is $1,500, but for the most part, the fee will be significantly lower.
Once you decide to make the call to a professional bail specialist, you will be asked a series of questions in order to qualify you as a cosigner. You will most likely be asked about your current employment and how long you have been working there. You may also be asked how much your weekly pay is and if you can provide a pay stub if it is required. In most cases, you will also have to be a US citizen who is over the age of 18 to be eligible. In some rare cases, the bondsman may ask for more than one cosigner depending on the nature of the crime, the amount of the bond and the financial state of each person involved. All of this is different and is evaluated on a case by case scenario. The reason all of these questions are asked is to make sure that if the person who is bailed out skips court dates and hearings, the cosigners will be able to pay the entire amount of the bond. All bondsmen have to put up a portion of the note to be able to get the arrested person out of jail, so they need to make sure they do not forfeit those funds if the person decides to skip court.
Once all of this information is understood and in writing, the agency will ask you to come to their office to sign all of the legal forms. You may be required to disclose your address, where you work, your phone number(s), date of birth and social security number. You will then be asked to sign an indemnitor form to become a legal cosigner. Remember that a bondsman cannot legally post the bond until all parties have filled out the appropriate paperwork. Once all of the papers are signed and you pay the agency, your friend or loved one will be able to get out of jail.
Please remember that the content on this page is simply an example of how a bond typically works. Surety bonds are very common and are issued and paid every day in states across the country. If you, a friend or loved one is ever arrested, it is important to know what steps you need to take to ensure a quick and painless release from jail. Please view these answers to some frequently asked questions we encounter to help educate you on how the process works. To learn more about what our company does, or to obtain additional information, please visit our contact page.