3 Things To Know About Bail Bonds

Getting arrested can be incredibly difficult. Whether it's your or a friend or family member on the wrong side of the law, chances are that your main thought after being put in jail is how you are going to get out. For most people, bail is set by a judge soon after you have been placed in jail. Bail is usually a certain amount of cash or property that you can give to the court as a promise that you will show up to court when ordered. If you fail to show, you lose your bail and are arrested again. The problem is that sometimes it can be difficult to come up with bail. This is where bail bonds can come in handy. Here are three things that you should know.

They Are Not Available In Every State

The first thing that you should be aware of is that bail bonds are not available in every state across the US. Washington D.C. and the states of Massachusetts, Oregon, Kentucky, Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Maine do not allow private bail bonds. In these states, you may end up spending more time in jail if you are unable to afford bail. Signature bonds signed by friends or family members may also be used in these states.

They May Be The Right Financial Decision

While you may be able to afford the total cost of your bail out of pocket, this may not always be the best financial decision. With a bail bond, you only pay part of the total cost to the lender. If you need to have your money available to you, then bail bonds may be a better option. Of course, bail bonds do cost more out of pocket than paying bail yourself. When you put up your own bail, the entire amount is returned to you after the legal proceedings. With a bail bond, the lender keeps a percentage of your bail. However, if you need those funds for bills or other expenses, a bail bond may be the best option. 

The Cost

Before deciding on a bail bond, it's also important to factor in the cost. On average you will pay around 10 percent of the total value of the bail in order to take out a bail bond. You may also have to put up property, such as your car or home, as collateral. If you fail to show up to court, you may end up having this collateral seized. It's important to take the cost of a bail bond into consideration.

If you have been arrested, making bail can be difficult. A bail bond can help. It's important to know whether or not you can obtain bail bonds in your state, whether it makes sense financially to take out a bail bond, and what the estimated cost will be. 

For more information, get in touch with a bail bonds lender, such as Valencia Bail Bonds.