Do I Need Collateral for a Bail Bond?

No Collateral Bail Options

One consideration in deciding to use a bail bondsman is collateral, which may or may not be required.  For the most part, it’s up to the bondsman if collateral is required for the bond. While not always the case, most bondsmen will require collateral equaling and sometimes exceeding the amount of the bond. One hundred-fifty percent (150%) of the bond as collateral is a traditional number in the bail industry. Collateral covers the bail company if the defendant fails to appear in court and needs to be found and returned to jail or court.

The factors that the bondsman will look at when deciding about collateral requirements include the amount of the bail, the amount of time the defendant and the indemnitor (the person signing the bail bond contract) have lived in the area and the need of a payment plan. Basically, the bondsman is determining risk. The higher the risk, the more likely the need for collateral.

Collateral, when required, is most often in the form of real estate (meaning your home). Collateral will be returned at the conclusing of the criminal case. Understandably, most people don’t want to put up their house for a bail bond — not to mention that these days many people don’t have substantial equity in their homes.

There are bondsmen who can provide no collateral bail bonds. If this is important, be sure to find it.

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2 responses to “Do I Need Collateral for a Bail Bond?”

1. Bail Bonds Marine writes:
   

   My mother used her car as collateral and luckily I made it to court, otherwise she would of lost her car and probably more from the bail bonds agent. Gotta think what it would do to my mom, so I have to be on top of my things.

   @ June 9th, 2011 at 09:24
2. Tonya Page writes:
   

   Marine: It’s good to know that you appreciate your mom taking care of your bail bond and show the proper respect. Also nice that your mom had enough faith and trust in you to be willing to do so. As bondsmen, we rely on the fact that family knows the defendant well enough to make such an assesment.

   On the up side, if you had missed court, the bondsman, you and your mom could have arranged another date for you. Missing one court date would not cause a loss of collateral.

   For those without collateral, it may be worthwhile to find a bondsman who offers no collateral bail bonds.

   @ June 9th, 2011 at 13:25