Learn about the responsibilities of a bail bondsman before becoming one
A bail bondsman, or co-signer, is a person with a serious legal liability. If your friend or loved one has just been arrested, take the time to consider all the responsibilities that come with being a co-signer before you sign the legally binding contract to get them out of jail. You may be liable for hundreds or even thousands of dollars if you fail to comply with all court orders and bail conditions. Read on to find out what these responsibilities entail and who to call for reliable bail information in your county.
use a bond
Posting a bond is the easiest and cheapest method of obtaining release from jail. But when faced with the decision to get a friend or loved one out of jail, it’s a decision you should never take lightly. This is because the legal responsibility attached to a bail bond is a serious undertaking, and whether or not you face the ramifications of those responsibilities is up to the choices of the person you are rescuing from jail.
Although you only pay a fraction of the total cost of your loved one’s bail bond premium, the bail bondsman covers the rest of the amount. So, if your loved one’s bail amount was $10,000 and the bail bondsman charges a 10% fee, you will pay a non-refundable fee of $1,000, while the bondsman pays the court the remaining $9,000. As long as the defendant shows up for all scheduled court hearings and follows all court orders, the agent gets his $9,000 back.
But if the defendant violates any condition of the bail agreement or court orders, the bondsman does not get the money back until he can get the defendant to appear in court. They only have a certain amount of time to do this, and are usually unsuccessful. If this happens, you are responsible for paying the bondsman the remaining $9,000 as stipulated in the contract. If you used collateral to buy the bond, such as your car, boat, house, or other asset, you will have to give up that collateral.
who to sign for
To avoid any liability issues, be sure to only sign for people you know closely and can trust. Do not sign on behalf of someone if you have not known the person for more than a year, are unemployed, have a history of evading the law, have a criminal record, and are likely to commit more crimes or disobey court orders .