Category : Ask the Bondsman

Do Bail Bond Companies Loan Money?

Here is another Resolved Question from Yahoo! Answers, where we often answer to many bail related questions and concerns.  Our answer was chosen as “Best Answer” by voters.

Question:  Do bail bond companies lend money if a person is not in jail?

Answer:   This is a very good question and one we get often as bail bondsmen. Bail bondsmen do not make loans; they should be thought of more like an insurance company although the risk analysis on bail can be very similar to that of a loan. You are basically buying Read more »

How Do I Reinstate My Bail Bond?

Another “Best Answer”  chosen by Voters at Yahoo! Answers.

Question:   A warrant was issued for my arrest in San Diego County for a failure to appear. When I flew from the Bay Area to San Diego and met with the intern that was handling my case, I was very pleased to learn that the case was dismissed.  Unfortunately, now I have a bail recovery agent attempting to locate me for my arrest.  It is disappointing to find out this case was never dismissed, however I am willing to take care of this matter as soon as possible.

If I contact the bail bondsman, will they reinstate the bond so that I am not arrested?  I do not have a criminal history, and I even have a clean driving record.  I am the only signer on the bail bond contract, I own property and have good credit.  I would a prefer a lien against my condo rather than being chased by a fugitive recovery agent. 

Answer:   Your case is very common and something we see regularly.  The bondsman is likely to reinstate the bond, especially if the circumstances are as clean as indicated. The first thing you will want to do is to contact the bail bondsman and ask for a reinstatement.  There is often a nominal charge for this.

If the bondsman is unwilling or is unable to reinstate the bond, you will want Read more »

What Happens When Bail is Not Posted?

This question comes from Yahoo! Answers.  Our answer was chosen as Best Answer by Voters.

Question:  If I do not post bail for my friend, how long will they stay in jail with a $5,000 bail amount?

Answer:  If a defendant does not post bail, how long they will wait in jail depends upon the charges, jail,  jurisdiction and the courts. In the state of California,  the county jails are currently overcrowded.  If your friend were being held in a county jail with a bail amount that low,  and if  they were  non-violent, with a basically clean record, there is a pretty good chance of them being released on a “promise to appear” in court later.

Typically, when bail is not posted, the defendant will Read more »

What Happens to Bail Payments When Rearrested?

Today’s question comes from Kelly V.

Question: If a defendant is rearrested and is making his court appearances,  is he still responsible for his bail payments or am i as the indemnitor?

Answer:  First off, if a person who is out on bail is rearrested, the monies are still owed to the bondsman who bailed him out the first time regardless of: the recent arrest, if he/she is making his court appearances, or the outcome of the case.  This is an earned fee by the bondsman as soon as the person is released from jail.

Second, the person who signed the bail bond contract (also known as the indemnitor) not only takes responsibility for the defendant to appear to all scheduled court dates, but for Read more »

Going to Jail for an Unpaid Bail Bond?

Another bail related question at Yahoo Answers where we were chosen as Best Answer by Voters.

Question:  Can I go to jail for not paying for my bail bond?

Answer:  Bail is regulated on a state-by-state basis, it would be best if you checked with your state’s regulation. Are you referring to a payment plan you made with the bail bondsman for the bail fee or are you referring to a bail forfeiture?  I am assuming you are speaking of a bail bond payment plan.

I do not know what state you are in, but  for the state of California, a bondsman cannot return you to jail for not making payments. However, Read more »

Is Bail Money Refunded if The Person Dies?

Yahoo! Answers is a place where we answer bail related questions.  This answer was chosen as Best Answer by Voters.

Question:  If someone who is out on bail dies, does the person who bailed them out get their money back?

Answer:  If the defendant who is deceased used a bail bondsman, the fee that  was paid to the bondsman for release is nonrefundable. If monies are still owed to the bondsman due to a payment arrangement, then the bondsman would still need to be paid.

However, if cash bail was paid for the full bail amount to the court, the bail Read more »

What Happens to the Money After a Bail Bond is Posted?

Here is another bail related question from Yahoo! Answers, where we often answer to bail related topics.

Question: I was arrested and never charged. I bailed out prior to going before the judge. What happens to the money that was paid to the bail bondsman?  According to the county website there are no charges and the case was dismissed.

Answer:  Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon situation.  The money paid to the bondsman is a non-refundable fee, regardless of the outcome of the case or even if charges have not been filed. By California bail law, the bondsman fully earns the bail bond fee once the bond has been posted and the defendant is released from jail. Basically, it’s what you pay to get out of jail while the court and district attorney decide what’s next.

Paying A Bondsman When Found Not Guilty?

Today’s bail related question comes from Yahoo! Answers.

Question:  When I was arrested, I was bailed out a week later with the help of a bail bondsman.  My dad  is paying $400 per month on my bail of $15,000.  Does my dad still have to pay the bail bondsman even if I am found not guilty?  It is important to me to have a better understanding of this because I have put my dad in a position that is not easy for him.

Answer:  Unfortunately,  regardless of the outcome of your case, the money is still owed to the bondsman.  By law, the bondsman’s fee is earned as soon as you are released from jail. The bondsman cannot legally give you or your dad a refund.

The cost of bail bonds in California is typically 10% of the full bail amount in most states, so it is likely your dad has arranged for a payment plan on a fee of $1,500.  This fee is paid so that you can remain out of jail while you await your trial.

It is important that your dad continues to pay so that it does not result in Read more »

Newport Beach DUI Checkpoint Info For Friday Nov 18

The Newport Beach Police Department will be holding a sobriety checkpoint on Friday Nov. 18 on the northbound side of Jabmoree Road at Santa Barbara Drive.   The checkpoint will take place between the hours of 9 p.m. Friday night and 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

If someone is arrested for a DUI in Orange County, it is not uncommon for the arresting agency to detain the defendant for several hours and then release them on his or her Own Recognizance (O.R.), or allow them a “cite out” release.

On the other hand if the incident involves Read more »

Bail Collateral Refund?

Here is another one of our answers to a bail bonds related question from Yahoo! Answers.  This answer was chosen as Best Answer by Voters.

Question:  I was the co-signer with someone to help bail a friend out of jail.  I was the one who paid the bail bond fee along with a security deposit that was to be refunded.  I was told  that we would get it back by a certain amount of time.  Who would receive the refund, myself or the main signer?

Answer:  If you placed a “security deposit” on a bail bond, it sounds like you used collateral  in the form of either cash, check, or credit card.  If that is the case, the collateral money that was  used will not be returned until the case is complete and all court appearances have been satisfied by the defendant.

Upon completion of the case, collateral will be returned by the bondsman to whomever placed it.

Tying up money and/or property for bail can be a real hardship. Next time you may want to look for a bondsman that offers no collateral bail bonds.