What’s a Bail Bond and How Does It Work?
Being convicted and called for a court hearing can be stressful for both the defendant and their loved ones.
Getting bailed out of jail is possible, but there are many steps. And sometimes, the bail is set very high.
But what does a bail bond really do? This article will help you out.
What Is a Bail Bond?
If the defendant can't afford bail, they have to wait in jail until the trial date. These bails are set very high, so defendants can't pay them. That’s why they have to ask for help from bail bondsmen.
A bail bond is a method to get out of jail until the court date. It’s an agreement that acts as insurance to appear for a trial or a fee set by the court. Bail bonds are surety bonds endorsed by bail bondsmen.
Types of Bail Bonds
There are two types of bail bonds: Criminal and civil bail bonds.
Criminal bail bonds are for criminal cases, and act as a guarantee that the defendant will appear on the day of trial. They also work as an agreement to pay for any fines or penalties decided by the court.
Civil bonds work for civil cases. They guarantee the payment of the debt, plus interest and costs, decided against the defendant.
How Do Bail Bonds Work?
The defendant is usually given a bail hearing before a judge. The judge sets the amount of bail and may refuse bail altogether. They can also set astronomically high rates of bail. This usually happens if the defendant is a flight risk or charged with a violent crime.
The defendant can either remain in jail or arrange a bail bond. That’s where bail bondsmen come in. They provide written agreements to criminal courts to pay the bail in full if the defendant doesn’t appear on the trial dates. Bail bondsmen charge 10% upfront of the bail amount to post a bail bond. They might also ask for a statement of creditworthiness.
If the defendant appears in court, the bail bond gets dissolved. And the collateral (house, jewelry, etc.) is given to the person who posted the bond. The bond is forfeited if the defendant doesn’t appear in court. The court then asks for the remaining 90% of the bail. The bail bondsman then uses the collateral to pay for the remaining amount.
At Ron Davis Insurance, you can sign up for bail bonds for as low as 8%!
Ron Davis Insurance is an insurance company in Elkhart that offers easily customizable policy options that work for you! You can reach out and avail their round-the-clock services anytime. You can even get your bonds processed over the phone!
Give them a call now for more information on their insurance services in Elkhart!
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