Bail Bonds 101: A Guide For Inexperienced Family Members Seeking Bail For A Loved One

Posted on: 13 December 2016

Smack dab in the middle of life, you get a call that your loved one has been arrested and is now in jail. Often, coming up with bail money will be the only way to get your loved one out of jail. However, if you are like most, you just won't have the extra funds available to pay for bail to get your loved one out of jail. Thankfully for you and your jailed loved one, there is another option in the form of bail bonds services. If this is a new situation for you, there is no doubt you will have questions about how the bail bonds process works. Here is a quick look at a few of the most asked questions to help you along. 

How can you get the bail bond process started?

To make things as easy as possible, you can usually start the bail bonds process over the phone. Once a bail amount has been determined by a judge, you can actually call a bail bond agent and get the ball rolling. You will need to let them know where the inmate is located, how much the bail is, and what you have available to pay, if anything. In some cases, the bonding agent can go ahead and initiate the process by delivering the bond to the jail. 

Can this work if you have no money at all?

The bail bond agency will charge fees, but in some situations they will work with you to make arrangements for payments if you have no money available up front. So make sure you talk openly with the bond agency about your personal financial situation if you are trying to get a loved one out of jail, as they may be able to work out something to help. 

How soon will your loved one be out of jail after the bail bond is posted?

The bail bonding agency really has no control over how quickly your loved one can be released from jail. They will, however, do what they can to assist you with posting bail as quickly as possible. But, the release process from jail can take some time to complete depending on the location and the circumstances. Therefore, even if the bail bond is posted early in the day, it can be a while before your loved one is actually released from jail so you can pick them up. 

For more information, contact a company like All Star Bail Bonds.

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