3 Questions To Ask The Bail Bondsman

Finding out that a loved one is sitting in jail and awaiting bail isn't something that you think about until it happens. Getting that call from jail can leave you wondering what you are supposed to do to get them out and back home with you. Instead of going into panic mode and wondering what you need to do to make it happen, you can turn to a bail bondsman for help. Not sure what to expect when dealing with a bondsman? Here are three questions you need to ask when dealing with a bondsman.

How much money is needed up front?

One of the first things you need to know is how much money you are going to need to bond someone out of jail. Every bondsman is different in the amount of money they require, just like every bond amount is going to vary. You need to know how much money you need up front so that you can better prepare yourself when it comes time to meet the bondsman at the jail to get your loved one out and back home. It won't do you any good to meet the bondsman if you don't have the money on hand to pay them.

Can you accept anything else beyond cash as collateral?

Depending on the bond amount, you might not be able to come up with cash to get your loved one out. If that is the case, you will want to ask the bondsman what else they are willing to take beyond cash. Many bondsman companies are willing to take things such as vehicles, land, homes, guns, furs, jewelry and other items of value in place of all the cash. You will still need a small amount up front for their time, but it will be significantly less than if you had to pay for everything on your own.

What happens if the individual skips out?

You need to know what is going to happen if the individual ends up skipping out on bail. In most cases, you could end up being held responsible for their entire bail amount. You also stand the chance to lose out on all of your collateral you put on the line. You need to know what you stand to lose right in the beginning.

By asking the above questions, you can save yourself a lot of problems later on down the road.


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