3 Tips For Dealing With Bail Bonds

If you find yourself in jail for a misdemeanor or felony, you may think you are doomed to spend weeks or even months incarcerated, waiting for your trial. Fortunately, bail bonds allow you to post money that serves as a financial guarantee that you will show up for your trial, meaning you can return to your family and loved ones immediately. While the process is ultimately a simple one, there are still a number of things you should keep in mind during the bail bond process. Keep reading to discover three invaluable tips to remember should you ever have to post bail.

Get a Head Start

It's vital that you begin the bail process as soon as possible if you want to get out of jail in a matter of hours or days. When someone calls a bail bondsman on your behalf, they'll have to fill out an application, submit to a credit check and be placed in a line behind several others demanding the same service. If the bondsman is in high demand or it is a particularly high-traffic week, the wait may be extended.

Educate Yourself

No one plans to land in jail, but should you find yourself there for any reason, you'll probably wish that you knew a bit more about state laws regarding bail bonds. In some states, for example, individuals arrested for capital crimes cannot post bail for any reason. In many others, private bail bonds simply do not exist; these states include Wisconsin, Maine, Oregon, Nebraska and Kentucky among others. If you live in one of these states, you'll have to contact family or friends willing to sign a bond voucher on your behalf. In turn, these individuals should be aware that if you fail to show up on the day of your trail, they'll be held financially responsible for your bail voucher amount in full.

Putting up Collateral

Many people assume that bail bond collateral is limited to cash and credit cards. But if you're low on cash and don't have any credit cards you can use to post bail, there are still several options available to you. A car, house, plot of land and jewelry are all examples of things that can be used as collateral to get you out of jail. Anything that is worth as much as the bail and is valued as a stable commodity is fair game. Contact a local bond company, like Absolute Bail Bonds, for more info.