If you know someone who is in jail, you might think that it would be easy to go to the facility to post their bail so that they can go home until their court date. However, this is often not the case, as you typically need a bail bondsman who can complete the proper paperwork before the inmate is released. Here are a few reasons as to why you want to ensure that you use a professional agency.
1- Legal Assistance
While a licensed bail agent typically can’t provide legal advice like an attorney can, they know many of the legal questions that you might have. They are there to give you the support that you need through the process of the arrest of the person that you know, the bail process, and the court date. An agent will often let you know of the consequences that are associated if the person does not show up for the court date, as this could negatively impact you as well. If they do not know how to answer your questions, then they can direct you as to who to contact and often have attorneys they recommend who they have worked with in the past.
2- Finances
One of the reasons to consider using a licensed agency is so that you can save money. If you go to jail to post the bail for someone, you could be asked to pay the entire amount. When you use a licensed bail agency, you’re usually going to be asked to pay a percentage, with most agencies only requiring 10-20% of the bail amount. If the person you’re trying to get released has a bail amount that is in the thousands of dollars, then using a bail agent can have a significant impact on your financial situation. Most agents offer different options when it comes to how you pay for the bail amount as well, such as using cash, a credit card, or collateral. Types of collateral often include a car title or even the title to a home or piece of property that you own.
3- Responsibility
Once the inmate is released from jail, the bail agency can provide the support that the person needs until they go to court. They can often check in with them to ensure that they are staying out of trouble and can offer suggestions about where to look for work or where to look for housing if they don’t have a home of their own. A licensed agency can help with the necessary paperwork required to post bail and can help with ensuring that everything is in order before going to court so that they are prepared when they are in front of the judge.
The process of going to jail and posting bail can be a confusing time. It can also be a frightening time for the person in custody. With the help of a licensed bail agency, you can help someone you know who wants to post bail so that they can go home until their court date.
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