With a median bail in the state of California hitting $50,000, the number of people who have access to posting that much money in minuscule.

Having a bail bond agent who can post the bail in exchange for 10% helps to keep the accused from having their lives disrupted while they away trial. This is just one of the many benefits of using a bond agent.

While the cash bail system has come under scrutiny in the last years, there’s no foreseeable end in sight. People who are unable to post bail can lose their jobs, be kicked out of school, or end up losing their homes. If you can put up bail while you or a loved one is awaiting a hearing, you’ll be able to keep your life together.

If you’re still weighing out the options of whether or not to use a bail bond agent, here are just a few of the overwhelming benefits of using one.

1. You’ll Get A Bail Bond Agent With Experience

Most people have never been through the process of being arrested, awaiting a hearing, and dealing with the criminal justice system.

Many people are overwhelmed by the process and don’t understand how bail bonds work. Hiring someone who knows what they’re doing can save frustration, complications, and the emotional hardships that result.

When you hire a bail bond agent, you get someone who knows your rights and the limitations of the law. They can explain how bonds work and what to expect.

They’ll be able to lay out how the legal process will play out from your perspective, what you can do to optimize it, and what you need to have.Protecting your family, your assets, and knowing your rights is important to the bail bonds agent.

2. You Can See The Release Process Speed Up

If you were going it alone, you or your loved one could end up in jail for much longer than necessary awaiting trial. Bail bond companies have experience and contacts in the legal system. They know who to call to help speed things up.

Often bail bond companies will have built a relationship with the courts over several years. Because they know the bail bond company only takes on the most reputable clients, you’ll have someone vouching for you.

These relationships and agreements take years to build but you can take advantage of them because of your one incident.

If your bail bond company is expert enough and if the crime you or your loved one was accused of is minor, you could get out in under 24 hours. This can avoid lapses in employment that could damage the character of the accused in the eyes of the court. It could also hurt the accused’s ability to pay for basic needs.

3. Save a Headache in Paperwork

Unless you’ve got a degree in criminal justice, a lot of the paperwork necessary for filing for your bail bond could be difficult and confusing. Your bail bond agent will be deeply familiar with the paperwork and be comfortable navigating this process on your behalf.

Minor errors in filing this paperwork could result in a delay in the hearing, rescheduled proceedings, and an even longer jail stay. While you might have anticipated having your loved one out in just a day, mistakes on forms could drag the process out.

The staff at a bail bond company brings professionalism and experience to every matter, even just a simple form. They’ve spent so many hours filling out those forms, they could probably do them in their sleep.

By having someone to make sure everything is accurate and thorough, you’ll speed up the process and save a lot of turmoil.

4. Maintain Your Privacy

When people have the money to pay for bail, often courts will raise an eyebrow. You or your family could end up being scrutinized or requiring proof that the money you brought in was lawfully earned. This can be problematic for a lot of reasons, even when the money was earned from your own job.

You could find the judge demanding bank statement, pay stubs, and tax documents to prove that you’ve got the assets reflecting bail. This is a deep invasion of privacy that a bail bond agent would never engage in.

On top of that, you might not have the time or energy to get all of this ridiculous paperwork together in the heat of a crisis.

Because bail bond companies are experienced in working with the courts, their money won’t be scrutinized at all.

5. Keep Access To Your Money

Bail is a way for courts to confirm that the accused will show up in court when their trial comes up. They return the money following the court appearance but not before.

Paying an average of $50,000 is next to impossible for most families. Not having access to that money for several months is borderline unreasonable.

This whole process could take several months. If you’ve got hundreds of thousands just lying around, then you might not have a problem. But for most people, this is nothing approaching a reality.

A bail bond agent can help you skip the long wait. If the proceedings end up being more complex than planned and get drawn out, that money just ends up sitting there.

If you’ve only paid an affordable fee through a bail bonds agent, you’ve got much less to be concerned about.

A Bail Bond Agent Is There To Help

Your bail bonds agent is essential to guaranteeing a speedy legal process. They can ensure that your life goes back to normal as soon as possible. Thanks to bail bonds, you or your loved one can see freedom quickly.

If you’re looking for an agent to serve you some bail bonds, contact us today to find a perfect fit for your situation.

When a relative or friend is arrested, it can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved.

The first thing to consider if you or someone close to you is arrested is bail. According to the Eighth Amendment, each citizen has the right to bail, which guarantees their release from prison until their court date.

Depending on the crime committed, bail should generally be set at a reasonable amount. Even then, it may not be affordable for those arrested.

Thanks to bail bondsmen and affordable bail bonds, there’s no need to fret behind bars until a set court date.

In this post, we’ll outline how bail bonds work and how to find the most affordable bail bonds in California.

What Are Bail Bonds?

It’s common to mistake bail and bonds, as these two terms are so often used interchangeably. Here’s the difference.

Bail

Bail is a monetary guarantee or “promise” that a defendant (the person arrested) will return to court on their set trial date after their release from prison.

A court judge will set the bail amount according to the severity of the crime, the defendant’s previous criminal record, and their potential flight risk.

More often than not, bail is set at a reasonable amount for most common crimes. If the crime is especially serious, bail can be set very high. This is where affordable bail bonds come in!

Bail can be paid in a number of ways, including cash, check, credit card, and surrendering property to the court. If the defendant does not return to court on their set trial date, the bail payment is seized by the court.

The defendant may post their own bail, or bail must be paid for by a family member, friend, or third party.

Bonds

Even if bail is set at a reasonable amount, many defendants just have the funds to pay it.

When this is the case, defendants can turn to bond companies. These companies loan affordable bail bonds to secure a release from prison.

Bond companies are similar to insurance companies in that a defendant is buying a bond, or insurance policy, to secure their release from behind bars. The bail bond amount is usually set at 10% of the total amount of bail set by the court. This 10% cost is non-refundable to the defendant.

If a defendant does not appear in court on their set trial date, 100% of the bail fee is expected to be paid to the court. Usually, it’s the bail bond company who takes this blow.

If the bail amount is set high, the bail bond company will request security from the defendant in the form of property, a car, etc.

If the defendant skips their court date, the bail bond company has something of value to compensate for the full bail amount which must be paid back to the court.

How to Find Affordable Bail Bonds

Now that we’ve covered the difference between bail and bonds, here are a few tips on how to secure affordable bail bonds.

1. Look for Licensing

A reputable, qualified and affordable bail bondsman must hold a license and adequate insurance in the state of California.

There’s no harm in doing a quick background check or even asking to see their bondsman license if you’re in doubt.

Licensed bondsmen are legally obligated by the courts they work with to charge fair and affordable rates.

2. Reputation Is Everything

Do a little homework on local bondsman in your area by comparing online reviews.

If you find a bondsman who suits your needs, find out more about their reputation by asking colleagues what they know or have heard.

If you can’t find a decent reference, visit their website or review sites for feedback on their prices and level of service.

3. Location, Location, Location

Double check that the bondsman you choose is close enough to the jail you or the defendant is being held in.

Don’t fall for an advertisement that they’re located across the street when this is merely their P.O. Box.

Having to truck across town to a bondsman office is a waste of time and money. Find a bondsman with a reasonable location for your needs.

4. Scratch Their Back to Scratch Yours

Ensure the process flows as smoothly as possible by being well-organized. This way, a bondsman will keep you in the forefront of their mind and do their best to help.

When you arrive at a bail bondsman’s office, bring a credit card, cashier’s check, your ID card, and a title for a car or property.

Securing affordable bail bonds is simple if you put in a little extra effort too.

5. Compare Costs

This may seem like a no-brainer, but make sure you’re not being overcharged by your bail bondsman.

Most bail bondsman will charge a small fee for their services, over and above the 10% of your bail bond. This is standard, but do some research beforehand to ensure their fee isn’t astronomical.

If you can, find a bail bondsman who charges the minimum cost and does not ask for more security than they should. This could be a warning sign you are being taken for a ride!

6. Consider Their Attitude

How does a particular bail bondsman treat you when you first meet? Are they patronizing, condescending, or offish?

If so, this is not someone you want to put your freedom in the hands of. Make sure you’re 100% comfortable with the bail bondsman you turn to.

If they show compassion, care, patience and are willing to help, you can be assured of good value for money.

7. Determine the Timeline

A truly certified professional who offers affordable bail bonds will provide you with an estimate of when to expect the release from prison.

If you’re curious about anything, a reliable bondsman should be a resource to help you through the process.

8. How Readily Available Is Your Bondsman?

Does the bondman service you choose offer 24-hour assistance, seven days a week?

The justice system does not sleep. If a loved one is arrested in the wee hours of the morning, will your bondsman be able to help?

Make sure the bondman service you choose is not only affordable but readily available to help.

Access 24-Hour Bail Bonds Services with Bail Man

Bail Man Bail Bonds serves the great state of California, providing hassle-free, instant bail bond approvals.

We are at your service 24 hours a day to ensure you receive a discreet, efficient, and cost-effective bail bond service.

If you’re looking for a trustworthy bail agent, get in touch with Paul Columbis at Bail Man Bail Bonds.

Being charged with a minor offense can lead to months in jail awaiting trial for anyone who can’t afford bail. For someone with a high profile, this could greatly damage their career. When searching for someone to provide your bail bonds, you need to make sure that your reputation remains protected.

The reputation of a high profile celebrity is directly tied to their profitability. Everyone makes mistakes but for people who are in the spotlight, the wrong move can come with higher stakes than the average person.

If you’ve come across a run-in with the law that you need to get taken care of quickly and discreetly, be sure you hire the right professional. Here are the four things you need to look for when hiring a bail bonds professional in Hollywood.

1. You Need An Insider

The legal system is a labyrinth, difficult to navigate for people who don’t have a degree or only have experience being on the wrong end of the system. Bail bond providers know what to do no matter what time of day.

While the people at the courthouse or police station you need to deal with might hold down a 9-5 position, a bail bonds person knows who to call from 5-9. Building a trusted network of connections is what people who work in this industry do.

Bail bonds professionals know how to level with both a judge and client. They know which judges will be more lenient with you, which clients are more of a flight risk, and how to mediate the relationship between the two.

Hiring a professional who can be honest with you will help you better understand the system if this is your first major run-in with the law. An experienced bail bond provider can get someone out any hour of the day, during the holidays or over the weekend. It’s their years of building relationships that you’re paying for when you hire them.

2. Professionalism Over Paparazzi

The first phone call you want your bail bonds provider to make is to someone who can get you or the accused out of jail. In Hollywood, a lack of discretion will lead them to call other loose-lipped “professionals” that will have TMZ reporting on your case in minutes.

Clients need to have confidence in the quality and discretion of your business. In fact, that’s part of why you’re paying them. An unflinching professionalism, no matter how much local tabloids try waving at them, will keep your issue between the two of you.

A poorly-run bail bonds company will have people at the front-desk gossiping, big open windows that you can see from the street and make you feel uncomfortable. When discretion is at play, let your bail bond provider know. They shouldn’t be taken aback because they should already be working under an order of discretion.

Make sure you feel that your provider is listening to you, is serious, and wants to help you. If they see you or the name of the accused and you can see them counting money in their head, turn for the door before things get messy.

3. Find Someone Who Won’t Judge

Your bail bonds provider has probably seen every kind of case and accusation come across their desk during their career. When you tell them what is happening, they should be sympathetic with a desire to help.

If someone is arrested or charged during the holidays or a weekend, it can be hard to be without your loved one. You planned to be celebrating their successes and their continued achievements through another year, not spending Christmas or New Years in a bail bond office. When you enter, you need to know that the staff understands that as well.

Regardless of what the charge is, discreet bail bond providers should treat everyone without judgment. Higher profile people are often wrongly accused of charges inflated by accusers who might have dollar signs in their eyes. The staff should understand that their role isn’t to judge but to help you and your loved one.

And remember, your loved one hasn’t been tried, merely accused of breaking a law. The role of determining judgment is for the judge, not for the people working in a bail bond office. If you start to feel that you’re being judged, head for the door.

What your bail bonds office is tasked with doing is to be realistic about setting your expectations. Celebrities accused of breaking laws could be made an example of by judges or could be assumed guilty by a jury because of the type of art they make.

The best bail bond professionals know better than to pass judgment.

4. The Public Will Be Unforgiving

You need to have discretion from your bail bond providers because you’ll have enough to deal with as the public finds out about your case. Dealing with paparazzi, internet commentators, and media personalities is going to be a headache for you and your loved one. You don’t need to start having to pop Advil inside of the bail bond office.

Getting a bail bond from a discreet provider is essential for having a fair and balanced case in the end. Even though juries are vetted for biases, there can be unpronounced biases that can start as soon as the first reports go out.

Even if your loved one’s case doesn’t go to trial, a public perception of guilt will damage the possible deal that they make. It could sour the possibility of getting back to life as usual if the person providing your bail bonds was indiscreet and gave out private information.

Discreet Bail Bonds Providers Protect The Accused

In a system where the accused are to be presumed innocent, it can be hard to buffer that against public perception. No one is immune to gossip, most especially Hollywood gossip. Having someone who knows how damaging that can be will be beneficial to a positive resolution for you and your loved one.

If you’re ready to find a discreet bail bond provider, contact us today.