Understanding Financial Considerations

Posted on: 10 March 2021

Bail bond agents offer a unique service that you cannot get elsewhere. A bail bond agent pays a person's bail to provide a way out of jail. When you try to help someone you love get out of jail, you might turn to a bail bond agent for assistance. After all, using a bail bond agent's services cost less than paying the bail yourself. Before hiring the agent, you might want to ask them the following four questions.

1. Is Your Company Licensed and Bonded?

Before choosing a company, you might want to read through the reviews about various ones. You might even want to look at the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to determine each company's ratings. By researching them, you can learn a lot. When you talk to the company, you should always ask if they are licensed and bonded. While you can likely learn these things through your research, asking them directly is still a good idea.

2. How Much Do You Charge?

Next, you should discuss the fees for the services. Bail bond agents do not offer free services. They charge fees to cover their expenses and risks, and most agents charge around 15%. To determine the fees you must pay, you will need to know the bail amount set by the court for your loved one. You can then multiply the fee and the bail amount to find out your costs.

3. Can You Provide the Agreement Before Requiring a Signature?

Asking to see the contract before signing it is also a good question to discuss with the bail bond agent. All agencies require agreements, which are legally binding contracts. Reading through the agreement before signing it is a smart move.  

4. How Long Will the Process Take?

You might also want to inquire about the timeframe of the process. From the time you sign the agreement and pay the fee, how long will it take? When should you expect the jail to release your friend? The bail bond agent can provide an estimated timeframe that you can follow, and they are usually good at sticking with the timeframe they estimate.

After asking these questions and hearing the answers, you can determine if you want to hire the bail bond agent. If you do, sign the agreement and pay the fees to get the process started. You can learn more about these services by contacting a local bail bond agent.