Most people would do anything to keep their loved ones safe. The same goes for when someone gets arrested - it's natural for people to want to bail their friends or family out. However, while bailing someone out is often the best course of action, it comes with responsibilities. When an individual bails someone out, the person who posts bail is known as an indemnitor, and will be held accountable for the person getting bailed out.

When deciding whether to bail someone out of a California jail, it is best to take into consideration how reliable the individual is. If the person does not show up to his or her court date, the indemnitor could be responsible for paying the full amount of the set bail, which can be extremely costly and stressful.

In some situations, the bail bond company may have to locate the defendant, who will then be detained if found. The bail bondsman will look to the indemnitor for information or tips that may assist in the search for the individual. The indemnitor may also be required to pay for some of the costs of locating and detaining a fugitive.

However, if the reason for the defendant not being able to show up in court is legitimate, such as a car accident or any other unforeseen circumstance, the court will generally organize a cost-free plan to have the individual return to court on another date.

No matter what time of day an arrest is made and the necessity to post bail arises, the indemnitor will be able to contact a bail bondsman in California. Bail companies are open 24 hours a day, and offer bail bond payment plans in case the defendant or potential indemnitors are not able to pay the full amount.

If an indemnitor meets certain criteria related to such things as credit history and employment situation, collateral will usually not be required to post bail. No-fee financing is available for many potential indemnitors, and credit cards are also often an acceptable form of payment. When a bail is set, the person paying has to put down 10 percent of the bail to effect the prisoner's release.

Whatever the situation is, a California bail bondsman can provide the professional expertise to make sure an indemnitor knows what his or her responsibilities will be once the bail process is underway.