How Much Do I Pay The Bail Bondsman?

This is very common question and can be found on Yahoo Answers! where we frequently answer to bail related topics.

Question:  If your bail is set at $8,000, how much do you pay the bail bondsman?

Answer:  Bondsman fees can vary per state, but they will generally range Read more »

Monterey County Bail Bonds

Learning that someone you care for has been arrested can be both stressful and frightening.  In California it’s not uncommon for a defendant’s bail to be set at $25,000 or above.  Even though bail bonds cost just 10% of the total amount of a person’s bail, $2,500 can still be a lot of money to need to pay all at once.

Years ago it was much more common for people to pay for bail bonds in full.  Now, however, most Monterey County bail bonds companies find they need to be flexible with their clients when it comes to finding an affordable monthly payment plan that works within their budget.

Some companies may even be able to offer Read more »

How Much Do I Pay For a Bail Bond?

This is a bail related question found at Yahoo! Answers, where we will often give expert advice.

Question:  In short, my boyfriend is in jail and has a total bond amount of $30,000. The court says they will let him go for $3,000 which is ten percent of $30,000.  If I used a bail bondsman will I pay 10% of the $30,000 or 10% of the 3,000?

P.S. He will not skip his court dates as he is very trustworthy.

Answer:  You do not mention which state the bond is for. Bail bonds are regulated on a state by state basis,  so that would be significant information.  However,  in the state of California, where I am a bail bondsman, you either pay the full bail amount to the court, which in your case it would be $30,000.  If you decide to use a bail bondsman then you will pay 10% of 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 »

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 »

How Does a Bail Bondsman and a Bounty Hunter Make Money?

Today’s Ask the Bondsman question comes from Yahoo! Answers, where we frequently answer bail related questions. Our answer was choosen by readers as the best answer to the question.

Question: How do bail bondsmen and bounty hunters make money?

Answer: A bail bondsman makes money from the “premium” which is legally mandated in most states at 10% of the total bail amount. That is a fee for providing bail services.  Given the defendant goes to court, the bondsman pockets that amount.  Of course, profit is determined after operating costs like insurance, advertising, office space, payroll, etc.

A bounty hunter, better known as a ”fugitive recovery agent,” operates Read more »

How Do I Negotiate the Price of Bail?

Question from a reader: How do bail bonds work and how do I negotiate their price? If the bond is set at $100,000, 10% would mean a price of $10.000, correct? $10.000 is a very steep price, and I’m worried that most bail bond places wouldn’t cover the amount. Could I work the price down to something around 5%?

Answer:

The bail bonds industry differs from state to state. California, for example, is regulated by the California Department of Insurance and rates are either 8% or 10%. Discuss with the bondsman what he or she can do for your case.

10% of such a large sum is a lotof money, granted, and this is made worse by the fact that you’re not going to see any of it back — it’s a fee. The risk though lies with the bondsman, and if a client skips court and cannot be located, the bail bond company is obligated to pay the amount to the courts in full. Of course, the bondsman will Read more »

Do I Have to Pay the Bail Bondsman?

Today’s question comes from Yahoo! Answers, where we answer bail related questions on a regular basis: What happens if I sign an agreement with a bail bondsman to post bail for someone who is in jail, but I have not yet paid the fee?

Answer: Your question is a bit vague, but let me see if I can answer it. Based on my understanding of your question, you bailed someone out who is back in jail, but you haven’t paid the bondsman. Assuming that’s correct, you still need to pay the bondsman.

Posting bail for someone is an important decision. By signing the agreement with the bail bondsman, you have agreed that to the fee.  However, if the person was never released, then you owe nothing.

You should be aware that regulations vary from state-to-state. In California, a bondsman’s fee is fully earned when the bond is posted and the defendant is released. It doesn’t matter if no charges are filed, the defendant is guilty or innocent — or they get re-arrested.