There is a lot of controversy behind the use of bail bonds services.
Many people have their own opinions but most experts agree that there are both good and bad points to using a bail bond service.
The first thing that has to be understood is that bail bond services aren’t going to get you out of jail for free or anything like that. A bail bond service works together with an attorney that will take care of everything you need to do in order for you to get out, such as posting the required amount of money, whether it’s cash or property, which usually has to be done within 24 hours after your arrest. The fee for this type of service usually runs about 10 percent of the total value. So if your house was worth $50,000 and you wanted to use it as collateral for your bail, this would require a $5,000 fee.
Although bail bond services may seem like an easy way out of jail, most states have set up rules that need to be followed in order for the bail bond service to remain valid. For example, if you don’t show up for your court date or even just leave town without telling anyone they will revoke the agreement and take back the money that was posted as collateral. If you do go this route make sure everyone involved knows the whole procedure so there are no mistakes on either side.
The other option is to skip town after being released from jail until your court date comes around which might save you some money but doesn’t do much for your case. For example, you’ll most likely have to hire a different attorney and that can be quite expensive. This is why it’s important to get an attorney in the beginning so they can advise you on what you should do during your time of need. If this isn’t done correctly it could cost you more than hiring a bail bond service would have in the first place.
So what does this mean for people that would like to use a bail bond service?
You need to know that this isn’t something you can just do on your own without the proper knowledge. Remember, if you post cash or property as collateral it needs to be returned when you show up for court so if you don’t go they will take the money back. All of these precautions are there for your safety and their protection so take notice. The one good thing about using a bail bond service is that they usually offer 24 hour assistance at no extra charge whereas an attorney usually doesn’t offer this type of service unless they’re hired by the state or family member.
The final consideration is cost. If you want to save money then definitely go with the bail bond service. If you feel like you might need an attorney then it’s best to hire one since they will most likely be able to do more for you than a bail bond service can do. Most of the time using a bail bond service is fine but there are some exceptions where hiring an attorney would be better suited for your needs.