If a loved one has been arrested, they will most likely need someone to obtain a bail bond to get them out of jail. While the bail system is not overly complicated, you will want to have a basic understanding before speaking with bail bond agents in Norwalk CT.
What is Bail?
Bail is an amount of money that when paid to the court, allows a defendant to leave jail ahead of their court proceedings. Once all of the court obligations have been finished, and if the defendant has shown up to court faithfully, the bail money will be returned. If the defendant does not return to court, then they will forfeit the bail money, and a warrant will be issued for their arrest.
What are Bail Bonds?
Most defendants do not have excess cash laying around with which to post bail. To make bail, their friends and family will purchase a bail bond to secure their release. With a bail bond, a purchaser will put down a percentage of the total bail amount, usually 10 to 20 percent, to a bail bond agent. The bond agent will then supply the remaining amount of money to the court. The defendant also promises to show up for his or her remaining court obligations.
Obtaining a Bail Bond
Procedures will vary depending on the individual bail bond agent or company, but generally speaking, a friend or loved one will pay the required fee to the bond agent and also provide collateral to make up the rest. For example, if a defendant had bail set to $20,000 and the bail bond agent required 10% to be paid down, the defendant’s friends and family would be responsible for paying the bond agent $2,000 and also provide collateral to cover the remaining $18,000.
What to Expect
Since the bail bond agent is taking the majority of the financial risk, they will likely have their own set of requirements to follow. They may require a defendant to check in periodically. Others may ask that the collateral belongs to a friend or family with the thought that a defendant will be less likely to skip bail if their friend’s property is on the line. For a more detailed list of requirements, visit us online to learn more information about Bail Bond Agents in Norwalk CT.