Every day, people throughout the country find themselves having to bail someone out of jail. If you need to bail out a friend or loved one, it's helpful to know what to expect. The amount of bail set by the judge can be alarming, but typically you do not have to pay that entire amount, to get your loved one released from jail. Usually, you will be able to obtain a bail bond agreement, by paying only a fraction of the bail that has been set.
The information below is to help you understand the bail bond process more clearly, so you can complete it more smoothly and quickly.
How Much is Bail?
The minimum amount of bail that you should expect to pay to obtain a bail bond agreement with a bail bond agency is 10% of the bail amount set by the court, and the maximum amount is 20%. Most licensed bail bond agencies charge 10% of the set bail. So, for example, if the judge has set bail at $20,000, the amount to be paid to the bail bond agency would be $2,000.
The down payment on the bail bond may be only 5%, or even 0% in some cases, depending upon various factors of the case. There may be mitigating or aggravating factors. Charges of crimes such as drug possession, theft, DUI, and others are factors differently from case to case, depending upon the whole set of circumstances of each case.
An additional fee may be collected by the state.
What Information Must You Provide to the Bail Bond Agency?
This is a list of the information you will need to bring with you to the bail bond agency, in order to be able to bail someone out of jail. The process may be prolonged, if any of this information is not provided. Bring the following information about the person who has been arrested:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- County of residence
- Date of arrest
- County where arrested
- Which jail they are currently in
- Amount of bail set by the court
How Long Does it Take to Get Out of Jail with Bail?
There is no way to determine in advance how long it will take for someone to be released from jail after you bail the person out. Bail bond processing works differently, depending upon the crime an individual is charged with, the county where the arrest occurred, the arrested person's personal history, citizenship status, and a number of other considerations.
How Can Having a Cosigner Help?
In some cases, having one or more cosigners to put the money down can be very helpful. If a cosigner is needed in order to obtain the bail bond, be sure that the individual(s) meet these basic qualifications for cosigners on bail bond agreements:
- Reliable, responsible individual
- Strong employment history
- Good credit rating
- Collateral (depending on the case)
In some case, it may be possible for a cosigner to help you obtain a bail bond, even though the person does not meet all of these requirements. However, your likelihood of obtaining the bail bond increases when your cosigner has a good personal record in these areas.
Sometimes, bail bond agencies only accept cosigners who are homeowners. However, the bail amount and the logistics of the situation can make the major difference in determining what kinds of collateral are acceptable for a cosigner to have.
What is Your Responsibility After Posting Bail for Someone?
It is important to be aware that when you bail a person out of jail, you become responsible for them throughout the term of the bail bond. You must make sure that they do not leave the state, that they appear in court on the scheduled dates, and that they do not get into more trouble while they are out of jail on bail awaiting their court dates.
Bad Boys Bail Bonds, Utah
We are a family owned bail bond agency helping people throughout the state of Utah. We are available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. We provide friendly, quick, confidential service. For more information, or to obtain a bail bond, call Bad Boys Bail Bonds in Salt Lake City Utah at (801) 566-1108 ,or fill out our online contact form to Request Bail. We're here to help anytime.
