Things You Should Know Before Calling a Bail Bonds Service

Nothing can be scarier than getting the news that police have arrested your loved one on some criminal charges. When you hear it, your first instinct should be to get him or her out of jail, regardless of anything. People can recommend hiring a professional bonds service for posting bail. But you may have certain doubts about it because of the unfamiliarity with the process. Don’t worry about this as it’s natural to hesitate. However, since it can be unavoidable and urgent in some situations, you need to have awareness about a few basic things in this matter. 

What is a bail bond?

An accused has to go to jail after facing arrest and wait for the court hearing where a magistrate declares a bail amount. The defendant can be set free from prison only after the money has reached the court. Failing to post an amount can result in a person’s extended stay in jail until the next court date. When you contact a bail bondsman company for help, you are ideally seeking a loan. The agent represents the defendant and submits the money on his or her behalf. Like loans, you have to pay some non-refundable fees in this case too. Every state has a fixed rate beyond which the fee charges cannot exceed. Hence, you can find it to vary between 10% to 15% of the total value of the bond.

Who determines the bond’s fee?

You must already be in stress. Hence, you wouldn’t want to invest your energy in negotiating the fee here. Thankfully, these companies hold a license and have to follow the rules and regulations of the state where they operate. That’s why you can rest assured that you are not paying more or getting deceived for the situation you are facing. However, when you hire an agency, make sure it has the experience, license, and excellent history of customer service. If you ensure this, you will not have to bother about anything else apart from the loved one who is in jail.

Who is responsible for the defendant’s appearance in court?

Anyone who signs the contract! If you seal a bail bond on behalf of your loved one in jail, then you are committing to the financial responsibility regardless of whether the person appears in court or not. For instance, imagine that the bail amount is $10,000, and you pay a 10% fee, which is $1,000. If the defendant is present in all the hearings, your cost will only be the fee. But if the person violates the terms and conditions of the bond set by the court, then you may end up bearing the entire cost of $10,000. Hence, you have to be very careful about your step before doing anything. If you are sure nothing like that would happen, then only take this responsibility. 

There are many well-known bond companies in Ohio, and Castle Bondsman is one of them. If you need any help with posting bail for a member accused of domestic violence, DUI driving, theft, or something, you can reach out to it for assistance.