Category : Ask the Bondsman

Removing a Bail Bond Lien

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

Question: I would like to get off the bond so I can sell my home.  The title company shows I have a lien from the bail bond company.

Answer:  If your home is being used as collateral on a bail bond,  it is because the bondsman felt that it was needed to secure the bond at the time it was written.  Your best bet is Read more »

Bail vs. Remaining In Custody

Question: My boyfriend is in jail and is eligible for bail, he is being charged with possession of a controlled substance.  His charge should be dropped because he has proof of  a prescription.  He will have to go court in about 2 weeks, but he really wants out.  In order to bail him out I have to pay $700 for the bail bondsman fee, but I know I will not get my money back when the case is over. We have a 7 month old baby and I know he will not be patient enough to wait until his court date, which is 10 days away.  If the case is dropped or dismissed he will be out free without having to have paid $700.  I need your opinion as to what I should do.  Do I bail him out or leave him in jail until his court date?

Answer:  Ten days is a long time to wait in jail.   If he has a job he needs to go to, you might want to get him out — jobs are hard to come by at this point.

If he does not work or provide care for your daughter, you may want to consider the cost of bail bonds.   How much of a financial hardship would it be even if you pay the $700?  Something else to consider is the emotional cost to you, him and your child if you decide to leave him there.

What it really comes down to is Read more »

Ask The Bondsman: Keep Paying?

This question comes from an Ask The Bail Bondsman submission sent by Arthur:

Arthur’s Bail Question

“My nephew was arrested on false accusations. He was released on bail. After two year of back and forth to court all charges were dropped. My question is will he have to continue making payments to the bail bondsmen? If not what happens to all the money that has gone towards the bail? Will he get anything back? What are the any steps that we should take to resolve this? Any help and suggestions are greatly appreciated. We are ready to move forward, and put this all behind us. Thank you so much for you time.”

Expert Bondsman Answer

First, Arthur, congratulations on your nephews outcome. I’m sure it was a long two years and your nephew appreciated your help.

Based on what you said, I’m assuming that you a payment arrangement for the bail bond premium (10% of the full bail amount). Assuming that you Read more »

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.