Posting Bail for a Loved One? Follow These Steps

Did you know someone is arrested every three seconds in the United States? That's a lot of people in jail at any given time. Most of the arrests taking place are for minor offenses like drug use and disorderly conduct.

Have you ever wondered what to do if your loved one is arrested? You will likely need to post bail.

Posting bail means they can stay at home rather than in jail before their court date. Here are some tips for navigating the bail and bond process.

Waiting to Learn the Bail Amount

After a recent arrest, the person in jail needs to appear before a judge for a bail hearing. The judge decides whether bail is an option and, if so, sets a bail amount.

You can generally expect a bail hearing soon after the arrest takes place. However, if the arrest warrant occurs on the weekend, the defendant may have to wait in jail until the following Monday.

You can still find the bail amount if you can't attend the bail hearing. Call the defendant's lawyer or the jail to see if a bail hearing has taken place.

Once you find out the bail amount, you can then decide how you want to pay the bail. Using a bail bond service is likely the cheapest and most convenient option for most people.

Contact a Bail Bondsman

Bail and bond is one of the most common ways to post bail. They usually charge around 10 percent as a premium to post the total bond amount for you.

You can pay the premium with cash, a debit card, or even a credit card. Although you will not get the premium back after the bond is refunded, you will still pay a fraction of the full amount.

Bail bondsmen also have a lot of experience and know more about the bail bond process in your area. This can be helpful if you have never posted bail for someone after a recent arrest.

Put Up Collateral

You must offer collateral to secure the loan from the bail bondsman. However, this amount is usually much less than you would need if you negotiated directly with the court.

Collateral items such as jewelry, your car, or other valuable items ensure that the defendant will attend court on the designated date. It is more of a guarantee that the bail bond company will get their money refunded.

Posting Bail Should be Easy

If your loved one is under arrest, you should not worry about getting them out of jail. With these tips, you can initiate the process of posting bail and have them home with you in no time.

Want to learn more about the bail process and what to do next time you have to post bail? Check out our website or contact us today for bail bond assistance in North Carolina.