If you or loved one is placed in jail, the courts will often place a bail that must be paid before release from jail. By posting bail, you can then be released from custody pending a trial. If you do not have the full money to post bail, you can go to a company that offers bail bonds to take out a bail bond and use it to place bail. However, before you take this option, there are a few things you need to know. 

How Does a Bail Bond Work?

When you take out a bail bond, you must pay a premium and then the bonding company will issue a bond. You typically will not get your premium back no matter how the case works out in the end, but the bonding company will get the money they pay towards the bail back when you or your loved one shows up to trial. Thus, bonding companies have a vested interest in making sure the person whose bail they pay shows up to court. Some companies may require you to offer something such as your house or car for collateral if they end up losing money if the person who is out on bail skips their court date. 

Not a Get-out-of-Jail Free Card

When you post bail, you should not look at it as a get out of jail free card. Instead, getting out on bail offers an opportunity to prepare you case and affairs for your impending court date. If you miss trial, the bonding company will have to pay the full amount of your bail. Thus, they may place restrictions on your travel to make sure that you don't try to run. Furthermore, if they suspect you are trying to run, they may hire or use their own bounty hunters to track you down and bring you to court. 

As long as you know what you are getting into, the bail bonding process can be a huge help. After all, it can be difficult to arrange your affairs and meet with a lawyer to prepare your case for court when you are behind bars. Besides, life behind bars does not compare to life on the outside. If you choose to work with a bail bonding company, make sure you completely understand the obligations you will be under before you take out a bail bond. By understanding the process and the obligations you take on yourself, you can make sure that the process works well for all parties involved. 

Contact a business like A Bail Now Bail Bonds, Inc. to learn more.

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