Tuesday, 22 May 2018

Securing Surety Bonds After Your Arrest

By Carolyn Stevens


The actions you take in the first few hours after being arrested are crucial to how fast you can get out of jail. When you are keen to go home as quickly as possible, you might want to find out how much your bail is and what percentage you need to pay upfront to be released. Many times, this amount is more than what most people have in their bank accounts. They typically have to figure out another way to raise the cash. Rather than sell off what you own or borrow money from loved ones, you could be released quickly by using surety bonds.

A bond is a portion of the total bail amount that the court mandates you pay to get out of the jail. Many times, this amount is around 10 percent of the bail. Other times, it can be as high as 20 or 30 percent. Nonetheless, arranging for the amount to be paid means you will have to agree to a legally binding contract with the company that fronts the money to the courthouse for you.

The foremost responsibility you have as a client involves appearing at all of your scheduled court dates. These dates can include the initial arraignment where you will be charged with whatever crime for which you have been arrested. It can also include the actual court date or trial during which your fate will be determined either by a judge or jury.

Skipping out on these dates after your bond has been posted is a criminal act called jumping bail. It means that you have absconded from both your obligation to the court and to the bondsman. The bondsman can in turn ask the court to issue a warrant for your arrest and then pursue you until you are caught and jailed on a jumped bail charge.

Obeying the terms of your contract typically is not difficult or too much to ask given your legal situation. Your attorney, if you choose to hire one to take your case, may even be able to arrange for the bondsman to come to the jail immediately after your arrest and arraignment. You might only have to spend a few hours there.

The cash may not be fronted without some type of collateral, however. Larger bond amounts typically need to be secured either with a house or car. You can also secure it with your earnings by agreeing to have a levy attached to them if you do not make your payments on time or if you skip out on bail. The assets will be liquidated or levied to pay the fronted cash amount.

Once your fate has been determined in court, you can then pay off your bond amount in monthly payments. If you are jailed, your relatives or friends may have to settle the account for you. You also could liquidate the asset that you used for collateral to secure the money.

Securing bonds to get out of jail is a legal process about which you may want to be aware. You will be held to certain legal obligations that cannot be reneged on or ignored. You can be bound to a contract that is enforceable in court and to the fullest extent in your state.




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