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In general, the fee you will be charged will be 10% of the total bond amount. For example, if your bond is set at $20,000, the bondsman will charge you $2,000 to post the total bond on your behalf. If you fail to appear, the bondsman will lose $18,000. At this point, the bondsman will come after you, or any co-signors, to try and recoup their loss. [2] X Research source
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Often, bail bondsmen have offices near the jail or the police station. Your friend or family member could stop in and talk with them.
Write down the number and then double check that the agent is registered. You can usually check by visiting your state’s Department of Insurance website, which usually has a “Look Up” feature you can use. [4] X Research source
Whether you will pay the fee upfront or if you can pay in monthly installments. Whether interest will be charged. If so, find out the amount and how it is calculated. Whether you need to put up property as collateral. You might not have put anything up as collateral on your first bond. However, a bond agent might require collateral for the second. “Collateral” is property you pledge to secure the bond. If you violate the terms of your bail, then the bondsman has to pay into court the full amount of the bond. In return, he or she can then take your collateral. How long the bondsman waits before closing on collateral. Should you fail to obey the conditions of your bail, then the bondsman can close on the collateral. Find out how much time you have before they close on the property. How the bond agent provides receipts and other proof of payment.
Definitely try to avoid any bondsman that will take you into custody because of minor violations, such as failing to call them one day. This type of bondsman could cost you more than they are worth.
How the nonrefundable fee is to be paid (e. g. , one upfront fee or monthly payments) Whether any interest will be tacked on to your normal payments If collateral needs to be put up (e. g. , your home) Who the co-signor is, if you have one Any other conditions the bondsman sets for posting bail on your behalf
In a few courts, you can submit a written promise to appear in court. If you break this promise, the court will charge you the full amount of bail. If you appear for all of your court appearances, you ill not have to pay anything. This is called an unsecured bond.
undergoing drug or alcohol treatment programs continuing with school or a job reporting regularly to the bail bondsman
The fee you paid for your revoked bond will not be refunded to you. [8] X Research source For this reason, you might want to try and get the original bond reinstated, which could save you money.
Ideally, you should have immediately contacted your bandsman if you missed a court appointment or violated some other condition of your release. If you did, then the bond company may be willing to reinstate the bond because you are honest and not trying to jump bail.
Your violation was unintentional. For example, a medical emergency might have prevented you from getting to a court hearing. You weren’t aware you were violating the terms of your bail. For example, you might have failed a drug test because of a valid prescription drug you were taking. It didn’t cost the government anything to apprehend you. If you turned yourself in, then the government hasn’t expended any resources finding you. The government hasn’t been prejudiced by your violation.
Often, the bond company will have to sign a form granting permission for reinstating the bond. You should get the form from the court. [11] X Research source
The caption information. This includes the name of the court, the names of the parties (the state and you as the “defendant”), and the case number. A proper title. Often, this motion is titled “Motion to Set Aside Notice of Forfeiture and Reinstate the Bond. ” A request to set aside the forfeiture and reinstate the bond. You should identify the date the bond was forfeited and ask that it be reinstated. Give your reasons for reinstatement. A statement that the bail bondsman agrees to the reinstatement as well as their signature. A certificate of service, stating how you sent a copy of the motion to the prosecutor. Proper formatting so that the motion is easy to read (e. g. , 14-point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins).
If the bail bondsman drafted the motion, then he or she can file it. Ask for a copy. If you drafted the motion, then you will probably have to mail it to the court, since you are in jail.
If the judge grants reinstatement of bail, then he or she will sign an order to that effect. You should get a copy of the order. [15] X Research source
