When a loved one contacts you from jail asking for help with bail, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. You may wonder, What is a bail bond? How does it work? Where can I find a Minnesota bondsman I can trust? At A-Affordable Bail Bonds, we specialize in answering these questions and guiding families through this challenging time. In this post, we’ll explain the basics of bail bonds, how they work, and what to expect from the process.
What Is a Bail Bond?
If your loved one has been arrested and granted bail, he or she will need to remit monetary payment to the court as a promise that he will return to complete the legal process. In this way, the defendant does not have to remain in jail while the court proceedings continue. If the defendant is unable to remit payment to the court via cash or personal check, another option is to ask a friend or relative to contact a bail bondsman.
A bail bond is a form of bail remitted to the court on behalf of the defendant from a bail bondsman. The bondsman will charge you or the defendant a percentage of the total bond amount, usually 10 to 15%, as a fee for providing a guarantee to the courts that the defendant will appear at their hearing. For example, if bail is set at $1000, you will pay the bondsman $100 to $150 in exchange for their guarantee to the courts that either the defendant will appear, or the bondsman will remit the entire $1000.
How Do Bail Bonds Work?
The bondsman will outline the correct fees required by the bail that has been set. You will pay the bondsman the fee amount only and will not be required at this time to pay another portion of the bail. However, for large bail amounts, the bondsman may require some form of collateral against the bond. For example, the bondsman could request physical property in exchange for the amount of the bond. Commonly, bondsmen are also given a security interest in a home or vehicle against the amount of the bond.
In this way, if the defendant does not appear in court and the bondsman has to remit the full bail amount, the bondsman can take the items provided in payment for the bail they paid. Keep in mind that if a loved one asks you to procure a large bail bond, and the property put against the bond is your own, you stand to lose it if the defendant does not appear in court.
Where Can I Find a Minnesota Bail Bondsman?
Bail bondsmen are often located via an online search or your local Yellow Pages. However, A-Affordable Bail Bonds is a locally grown Minnesota business specializing in bail bonds in the Brainerd and surrounding areas for over ten years. Our network of knowledgeable bondsmen have the expertise are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help you or your loved one through those difficult times in your life.
This ends the second in this month’s series on Minnesota bail bond basics. Next, find information about what to bring to the bail bondsman as well as what to expect after the defendant’s court date.
If you or a loved one is in need of a bail bond, view our service providers in Minnesota and North Dakota or call us today at (877)-724-6520.