Category Archives: FAQ’s About Bail Bonds What If I Can’t Afford a Bail Bond?
The purpose of a bail bond is that it provides a way for someone in custody to post bail (and thus be released from custody) even if they cannot afford the full amount of the bail that was set by the judge. For example, if the judge set your bail at $10,000, you could obtain […]
How to Find a Bail Bond Agent Near You
When you find yourself booked for a crime, what’s the best way to find a bail bond agent near you? How do you know which bail bond agent to call? Should you call the bail bond agent nearest your location, or one that’s closest to your home? At A-Affordable Bail Bonds, we provide a […]
“I Can’t Afford to Post Bail! I’ll Just Wait It Out Until My Court Date.”
It’s a fair point — getting arrested is expensive. Even if you know you have foolproof evidence that will completely clear you of all charges, you’re not exempt from the standard process of arrest, booking, and being held in jail. Or perhaps the reason you committed a crime in the first place is […]
Busting 3 Myths About Bail Bonds
With over a decade of experience in providing bail bonds for our clients, we’ve encountered quite a few misconceptions about the bail bond industry, bail bondsmen themselves, and what a bail bond is or means. Today, we’d like to clear up some of these myths! The last thing we’d want is for anyone […]
Can You Remove a Felony From Your Record in Minnesota?
Having a felony charge on your record can cause serious frustration in your day-to-day life. The obvious and most significant downside, of course, is that a felony charge can make it much more difficult to land or keep a job — especially if that occupation requires a government-issued permit that you may no longer […]
What is “Bail Jumping”, and What Are the Consequences?
The act of “posting bail,” that is, paying a fee to the court that allows you to be released from jail until your scheduled court date, establishes a “guarantee” between yourself and the court that you will appear for your trail. Once you hold up your end of the bargain by making all of your […]
How Do I Get My Bail Money Back Once my Case is Settled?
Nobody wants to get arrested. But it’s particularly frustrating when you’re sent to jail for a crime you know you didn’t commit. Even if you have no doubt that a court will find you innocent once you have a chance to present your case, you’re still required to jump through the various legal “hoops” of […]
What Happens After an Arrest?
An arrest is a frustrating, stressful, and often confusing event. Your mind is racing with questions such as, what now? What does this mean for me and my future? What does this mean for my family? Of course, your most immediate thought is likely: how can I get out of here as fast as possible? […]
Four Questions You Should Ask a Potential Bail Bondsman
After you or your loved one has been arrested, a judge will set bail. When you pay your bail or pay a bail bondsman, you are free to leave until the next court date. By signing a contract with a bail bondsman, you can pay a small fraction of the bail and the bondsman will […]
What If I Can’t Afford a Bail Bond?
The purpose of a bail bond is that it provides a way for someone in custody to post bail (and thus be released from custody) even if they cannot afford the full amount of the bail that was set by the judge. For example, if the judge set your bail at $10,000, you could obtain […]
How to Find a Bail Bond Agent Near You
When you find yourself booked for a crime, what’s the best way to find a bail bond agent near you? How do you know which bail bond agent to call? Should you call the bail bond agent nearest your location, or one that’s closest to your home? At A-Affordable Bail Bonds, we provide a […]
“I Can’t Afford to Post Bail! I’ll Just Wait It Out Until My Court Date.”
It’s a fair point — getting arrested is expensive. Even if you know you have foolproof evidence that will completely clear you of all charges, you’re not exempt from the standard process of arrest, booking, and being held in jail. Or perhaps the reason you committed a crime in the first place is […]
Busting 3 Myths About Bail Bonds
With over a decade of experience in providing bail bonds for our clients, we’ve encountered quite a few misconceptions about the bail bond industry, bail bondsmen themselves, and what a bail bond is or means. Today, we’d like to clear up some of these myths! The last thing we’d want is for anyone […]
Can You Remove a Felony From Your Record in Minnesota?
Having a felony charge on your record can cause serious frustration in your day-to-day life. The obvious and most significant downside, of course, is that a felony charge can make it much more difficult to land or keep a job — especially if that occupation requires a government-issued permit that you may no longer […]
What is “Bail Jumping”, and What Are the Consequences?
The act of “posting bail,” that is, paying a fee to the court that allows you to be released from jail until your scheduled court date, establishes a “guarantee” between yourself and the court that you will appear for your trail. Once you hold up your end of the bargain by making all of your […]
How Do I Get My Bail Money Back Once my Case is Settled?
Nobody wants to get arrested. But it’s particularly frustrating when you’re sent to jail for a crime you know you didn’t commit. Even if you have no doubt that a court will find you innocent once you have a chance to present your case, you’re still required to jump through the various legal “hoops” of […]
What Happens After an Arrest?
An arrest is a frustrating, stressful, and often confusing event. Your mind is racing with questions such as, what now? What does this mean for me and my future? What does this mean for my family? Of course, your most immediate thought is likely: how can I get out of here as fast as possible? […]
Four Questions You Should Ask a Potential Bail Bondsman
After you or your loved one has been arrested, a judge will set bail. When you pay your bail or pay a bail bondsman, you are free to leave until the next court date. By signing a contract with a bail bondsman, you can pay a small fraction of the bail and the bondsman will […]
After you or your loved one has been arrested, a judge will set bail. When you pay your bail or pay a bail bondsman, you are free to leave until the next court date. By signing a contract with a bail bondsman, you can pay a small fraction of the bail and the bondsman will then assume the risk of having to pay the entire bail if you do not show up for court.
In Minnesota, the amount of a bond you need to pay a bondsman is usually around 10%. This is a useful service a bondsman provides, but you don’t want to hire just any bondsman. There are a few questions you should ask so that you can feel confident you have the right bondsman.
- What Are Your Guidelines for Bond Amounts? There are some bondsmen who have minimum bail bonds that they will issue. Others cannot post a bond beyond some maximum amount. The size of the market and the bail bond company determine whether they have minimums or maximums. A new company or a small company may not be able to handle large bonds, while in some areas, small bonds are just not profitable for bondsmen. Don’t sign a contract with a bondsman who will not be able to actually post your bail for you.
- Do You Offer Warrant Services? Some bail bondsmen provide free warrant check services. This means they will investigate to discover whether there are active warrants out for your arrest at the time. If you have active warrants out, a bondsman can pre-prepare a bail for you. This way, you can turn yourself in and take care of the bail right away rather than having to spend time in jail.
- How Do You Make Payment? Some bondsmen only accept cash, while others take credit cards as well. Always find out whether your preferred payment method is acceptable for your bondsman. You can also ask about payment plans. If you don’t have credit and are short on cash, a payment plan can alleviate some of your stress. Be sure to get the details on interest when asking about payment plans.
- Do I Need a Co-Signer? You need to ask whether you will need a co-signer for your bail bond. A bondsman will want to know your credit rating, your criminal history and whether you are a flight risk before he or she will accept you without a co-signer. Bondsmen like co-signers because they provide extra insurance if you skip your court date and also a first lead to tracking you down. If you don’t have a co-signer, some bondsmen will allow you to put up collateral instead.
It is always better to make an informed decision. When you pose these questions to your potential bail bondsman, you will be able to determine if he or she is the right fit for you. It is far better to do a little research than to sign a contract and find out you don’t have the right bondsman for your situation. Take the time to inform yourself and save yourself hassle later on.
Sources:
https://absolutebailbond.com/4-questions-ask-potential-bail-bondsman/
