A few years ago, I was in a pretty serious car accident. During the aftermath, I became really familiar with a lot of different types of lawyers. I worked with personal injury lawyers, insurance lawyers, and many others. Perhaps the most important, though, was the estate planning lawyer. I was really young, and neither my wife or I had thought about starting a will. But the accident kind of scared us into it. What would happen if one of us were to die? Even when still in the hospital, I was working with the lawyer to draw up a will. Now, I have some peace and security about what the future will be like if something should happen to me. And I have a lot of experience working with various types of lawyers! The accident was kind of a blessing in disguise in that way.
If you will be bailing someone out of court, you might be wondering if you will get your money back. As long as the individual attends all of their scheduled court hearings, you will receive your money back minus a fee for administrative costs. However, it may be a better idea to choose a surety bond.
Surety Bonds
If you choose a surety bond, you will pay ten percent of the cost of the bail and the rest of the money will be paid for by the bondsman. While you do not get your money back, you will benefit from not having to pay so much money upfront. This is especially useful if the defendant has a history of not showing up to court and has a higher bail set.
When a defendant fails to show up to court, the bond amount will be forfeited. However, if there was a very good reason for missing the trial, such as a medical emergency, it's possible to petition for the reinstatement of the defendant's bail and they will need to appear at the next court date. If the defendant fails to appear, there is a good chance that they will not be able to post bail a second time.
Property Bonds
In some cases, you will need a property bond. If the defendant shows up to court, the court will release their claim to the property bond. However, if the defendant does not show up to court, the property might be forfeited.
A bond can be discharged in one of several circumstances. The prosecutor might choose to drop the charges. The bond might be exonerated or acquitted. The defendant might choose to take a plea deal. Or, the defendant might lose the trial and receive a punishment. As long as the defendant shows up to trial, the bond will be discharged.
How to Respond to a Skipped Bail
If the defendant skips bail, you will want to find out why the individual skipped bail and will want to determine if there is a legitimate reason. If there is a legitimate reason, you will want this known to the court.
If you will have to pay for the bail amount, make sure to have the money ready to do so. You may be able to receive a discount if you are able to pay the full amount. Keeping the bail agency informed is always a good idea.
For more information about bail bonds, contact a 24-hour bail bonds service in your area.
Share27 April 2021
