If you are searching for Santa Monica bail bonds, then the chances are good that you have a friend or family member who has recently been arrested or is being held in jail. If you have a loved one in jail, then the last thing that you want them to do is to spend more time in jail than they need to.

Most people who are arrested and placed in jail have the option to post bail to be released from jail, either with or without the help of a bail bondsman or a Santa Monica bail bonds agency. Obviously, you always have the option of paying the entire amount of the bail to the court, in order to have your loved one released from jail on the promise of returning to court for all required scheduled appearances. This is known as a cash bond. As long as your loved one (also known as the defendant) returns to court as scheduled, the bond will be returned, less any court fees or expenses. However, the amount for bail can quickly escalate and, often times, people have difficulty coming up with that kind of cash on such short notice. This is where a bail bonds agency comes in to help.

Your Santa Monica bail bonds agency will charge your a flat fee, in exchange for posting the bail to have your loved one released from jail. It is important to remember that the amount that can be charged by bail bonds agencies is set by the state. In the state of California, this flat fee is 10 percent of the total bail – and any agencies that are charging you more (or less) are acting outside of the scope of California law.

While this fee is not returned to you, many people find the convenience and ease of working with a bail bonds agency to be more than worth it. In addition, bailing a loved one out of jail is typically an unusual experience — and working with a reputable bail bonds agency provides a shoulder for you to lean on, and a level of expertise and guidance that many people find to be extremely comforting.

Bail Bonds in Santa Monica

Since the bail bonds process is something that most people are not overly familiar with, the team at Ernie Lopez Bail bonds has put together a list of some of the lesser known facts about the bail bondsman process. Here are a few things you may not already know about bail:

1. Posting bail is not required. While most people simply can’t fathom staying in jail any longer than is absolutely necessary, you are not legally required to post bail. Posting bail to get out of jail is an American right that is as old as the Constitution itself; in fact, the 8th Amendment of the Constitution states that the government is prohibited from settling bail amounts so high that people could not afford it.

1. A bail bondsman or a bail bonds agency is not allowed to solicit business inside of the jail. Beware of anyone inside a jail who is trying to solicit the services of a specific bail bondsman or bail bonds agency, since many jails have rules prohibiting this. Often times, these solicitations can come in the form of an inmate trying to sway your decision, or point you to a specific bail bonds agency. You have the right to freedom of choice when it comes to choosing which bail bonds agency you work with.

1. Many bail bonds agencies offer various payment options. Most reputable bail bonds agencies realize and understand that coming up with the funds for a bail bond on short notice are, at best, a challenge for many people. With this in mind, the agencies will often have various payment plans for their services, or offer flexible payment options. Be sure to inquire about payment options when choosing your bail bonds agency, and only work with someone who offers a plan that works within your particular budget.

If you are in the market for Santa Monica bail bonds, the team at Ernie Lopez Bail Bonds sincerely hopes that you will consider working with them. They are a family owned and operated business, and they have been since the 1950s. They have the experience to handle all of your bail bonds needs, and still maintain that family connection to deliver exceptional customer service.

They have flexible payment options and credit is available to those who qualify, as well. If you have any questions or would like to speak to a bail bonds agent, give them a call – someone is standing by 24/7 to answer your call!