BAIL BOND COST

The cost of a bail bond in the State of California is determined by the Department of Insurance. This regulates the amount a bail bond agent can accept in order to provide a client with a bail bond. This amount is set at 10% of the total bail amount. So, if a defendant's bail is set at $20,000, the cost for a bail bond will be $2,000. This fee is known as the bail bond premium and is not negotiable. If an agency offers to negotiate the premium or charges any additional fees to drive the price up, they are doing so illegally and should be avoided when seeking an agency to work with.

Most agencies will accept payments that are made with any major credit card or cash. In some instances, collateral may be required to secure a bail bond. A lot of bondsmen will require that the premium be paid in full before they will assist a client with a bail bond. This ensures that they will be compensated for the service they provide. There are agencies, however, that offer financing options for qualifying clients in order to make a bail bond easier to afford.

BAIL BOND PAYMENT PLANS

In California, the bail amounts are among the highest in the nation. Because of this, posting bail is virtually impossible for many people. When bail amounts climb into the tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars, it can be very difficult to pay even the 10% bondsman fee. Many agencies will offer financing to clients in need, who can prove an ability to commit to a payment plan.

Bail bond payment plans could be spread out over a few weeks or several months. Agencies may look into your credit history to determine a person's ability to repay. Most offer financing with no additional fees or interest.

PAYMENT PLAN QUALIFICATIONS

A bail bond agency will look at several factors before agreeing to a payment plan with a client, such as property ownership and past credit history. If a client owns property, this shows that they are financially stable, and that they have something that can be used as collateral if needed, and are capable of making regular payments. The same applies to someone with a good credit history. Having a positive payment history will likely qualify someone for a payment plan.

A bondsman may also take into consideration the client's employment history, how long they have lived in the state, their arrest history and type of crimes committed.

INDMENITOR RESPOSIBILITIES

When someone enters into an agreement with a bail bondsman, they become what is known as the indemnitor on the contract. That means they agree to be financially responsible. If the defendant fails to appear for scheduled court dates, the indemnitor may be held liable for repaying the entire bail amount, as well as any added court costs and fees.

If someone is approached by a friend or family member about getting a bail bond, they should think carefully first. If there is any reason to believe that the defendant will flee once they are released from jail, it would be best to decline signing a bail bond agreement on their behalf.

Published: 01/27/2012