If you’ve been arrested and you’re in need of the assistance of a bail bond company, you need to make sure that you have found a reputable one. A good bail bond company will be able to answer any questions that you may have about the process. Here are some of the questions that you should be asking any potential bail bond companies that you are considering.
How Much Do You Charge?
One of the first questions you’ll want to ask is how much the company charges for their services. Typically, the average cost for a bail bond is about 10% of the amount that the bail is set for. If companies set rates much lower than that, then they may not be reputable, and may not be operating entirely legally.
Are You a Licensed Bail Bond Company?
While this may not be the first question that comes to mind, it is an important question to ask. Bail bond companies are required to be licensed in order to legally operate. Any bail bond company asked that question should be able to produce documentation of their license as well as a license number. If the company you’re looking to do business with is hesitant about providing this information then they shouldn’t be worked with.
How Quickly is a Person Released After a Bail Bond Company is Contacted?
While this isn’t able to be answered in an exact manner by a bail bond company, they will typically have a good idea of the timeframe that the person in custody will be released. The bail bond company is only able to control the paperwork portion of the process. Often, having a defendant released from jail is a long process that can be unpredictable at times. Patience is key in this part of the process.
What’s the Process for Acquiring a Bail Bond?
Any experienced company can assist in explaining the process of acquiring a bail bond, and the steps that come after. Typically, the steps look something like the ones listed below:
- General information will be collected from the indemnitor about the defendant. This information is collected to assess the bond’s risk related to the defendant. Some of this information can include the charges against the defendant, the length of time that they’ve lived at their current address, and if they’re employed.
- The customer will then provide payment arrangement information, and complete bond documents so that the bail bond application can be completed.
- The company will then post bail and the defendant will be released.
These four questions should be easy for any bail bond company to answer. A reputable bail bond company should be able to provide any information that you have regarding the process, as well as be sympathetic in their handling of it.
Here at Mercy Bail Bonds, we can walk you through every step of the process and answer any questions you might have. We understand that this is a trying time in your life, as well as the defendant’s life, and we’re here to assist you the best way we know how – providing excellent service and information when you need it.