financing home repairs to avoid further damage

financing home repairs to avoid further damage

4 Things You Need To Know Before Cosigning A Bail Bond

by Albane Francois

A bail bond is defined as a financial agreement between the bail bondsman and the criminal defendant. The bail bond is a written agreement that states that the bond will be repaid by the defendant after he or she goes to court following their release on bond. In order to make sure that the bail bond will indeed be repaid, collateral is set up in order to act as a monetary value to the bail bond. This collateral is usually taken by the bail bondsman in the form of cash, a vehicle, or property.

In the event that the defendant fails to show up to court, the collateral must be surrendered to the bail bondsman. If you are looking to be the cosigner of a bail bond for a defendant, there are a few things you need to remember in order to keep yourself safe.

1. It is a Legally Binding Document

Consigning a bail bond is more than just a written agreement. Being a cosigner means that you are agreeing to pay the bail bond fee in full, which is usually 10% of the amount owed and put up collateral, as well as being responsible for getting the accused person to appear in court. If the defendant fails to come to court, you will be responsible for repaying the full amount of the bail bond, which is stipulated in the contract between you and the bail bondsman. Even if you do not like the rules of the cosigner document, they must be followed.

  • Talk to the Bail Bondsman: Before agreeing to cosign any documents for the accused person, speak with the bail bondsman. He or she will be able to outline what your responsibilities are as cosigner, as well as give you an idea of how the process will work. This is the time to ask any questions you might have so that you are not surprised by anything later on.

2. Cosigner is Liable

As the cosigner of the bail bond, you are liable for any fees that may accrue should the criminal defendant flee or fail to appear for their court date. If this happens, it is the duty to find the accused person and bring them back to jail. However, whether or not the cosigner is able to find the criminal defendant after fleeing, he or she must still pay the bail bondsman's 10% fee, as well as surrender any collateral.

  • Understand the Fees: As you work with the bail bondsman, he or she will be able to help you understand the fees of their service. It is common for a bail bondsman to collect 10% of the bail bond amount, which is not returned to the cosigner. The criminal defendant should also understand what is at stake if he or she fails to show up for court on the appointed date.

3. Stipulations Can be Made

Because the cosigner of the bail bond is responsible for the collateral and the criminal defendant, he or she has the option to set stipulations for the accused person. This can mean requesting that they go to a drug or alcohol treatment center or to a mental health facility for an evaluation. This can be a good idea if drugs, alcohol, or behavior was the reason they were arrested.

  • Keep Them Safe: Choosing to send the criminal defendant to a drug treatment center or mental health facility can help keep them safe. It can also help prevent them from trying to skip their court date, which means the cosigner is giving themself a better chance at keeping their collateral if they believe this might happen.

4. Cosigner is in Charge

It is important to remember that the cosigner is in charge. If they believe the accused person will not hold up his or her end of the bargain and stay out of trouble while out of prison on bail, the cosigner can meet with the bail bondsman and request that the bail be canceled. This way collateral is returned to the cosigner and the criminal defendant is taken back to jail.

  • Take Extra Precautions: If the cosigner believes that the accused will flee as soon as he or she is released from jail, they can ask that the defendant be placed under supervised release. This will give the cosigner an extra precaution to making sure the defendant follows the rules

After you understand the important facts of cosigning a bail bond, you can meet with Nickel Bail Bonds or another local bail bondsman. Remember to ask him or her any questions you might have and make sure you understand the answers. The right bail bondsman for you will be one who is detailed with their answers and will be eager to work with you.


Share

About Me

financing home repairs to avoid further damage

How many times have you put off making repairs around your home because you didn't have the money to make them immediately? Have those decisions caused even more repair bills because you waited to make the repairs? I have done this several times in the past, and, oftentimes, not making those repairs have cost me far more to complete because the damage spread. The whole reason I created my blog was to help others find the financing they need to make home repairs without worrying about choosing the wrong type of financing option. Hopefully, my hard-learned lessons will help you avoid the same struggles that I have undergone.

Tags