If you are sent to jail, a bail amount is set, which must be paid if you are to be released before your court date. This amount must be paid in full, but as long as you are present for your court date, your money will be returned to you. Bail bonds are the best option if you can’t afford to pay the full amount due for your release. You can pay a court certified bondsman to secure your release for a fraction of the cost, but this money will not be returned to you.

Why Bail Bonds?

Most people don’t have the disposable income to cover the cost of their bail. A standard release fee usually ranges from 1,000 to 5,000 dollars; this price varies based on the severity of the charges brought against you. You can’t get out of jail until this cost is paid, or the charges brought against you are levied. The legal system moves slowly, so a lot of people prefer to be out of jail while they wait for their court date. A bondsman charges 10 percent of the total bail amount to secure a release from jail. You won’t get your 10 percent back, but in the short-term, it is more economically viable since most people don’t have the luxury to wait to get their money back from the courts.

Can I Do Better Than 10 Percent?

Not legally. Ten percent is the industry standard and legal minimum for these proceedings. If someone is offering bail bonds for less than 10 percent, they are either not certified to be doing their job, or they are illegally operating their business. You should report these businesses and go elsewhere to secure your release.

What If I Cannot Afford Ten Percent?

Most bail bonds businesses will work with you to create a payment plan that best fits your financial situation. However, if you have to establish a payment plan, expect to owe interest to your bondsman.

What Happens If I Don’t Show Up to Court?

Skipping out on bail bonds leaves the business that secured your release in a tight spot. Remember, they paid the full release amount to get you out, but they have only been reimbursed for 10 percent of it. If you don’t show up, they don’t get their money back. Nobody wants to lose money, so they will dispatch bounty hunters to find you and bring you back to court to stand trial.