Bail Bondman

A bail bondman makes their living by lending people money for bail, and by helping families and friends secure the release of their loved ones from jail. Typically, defendants or their friends and family pay the bondman a bond premium of 10 percent of the total bail for making this loan. This fee is non-refundable and is set by the California Department of Insurance.

For example, if your bail were set at $10,000, you’d pay $1,000 to the bondman for his services. In turn, the bail bondman would give the court a surety bond for the full amount. As long as you meet all scheduled court appearances, the surety bond will be dissolved at the end of the case. On the other hand, if you skipped town and weren’t caught, the bail bondman would have to pay the court the full $10,000 bond. As such, a bail bondman will often employ a bounty hunter to search for those clients who have skipped town.

It should also be mentioned that companies working for bail premiums lower than 8 percent are, more often than not, working outside of the standards of the California Department of Insurance. When choosing a bail bondman to hire, keep this in mind.

What Does a Bail Bondman Do?

Because of this liability, many bail bondman do not agree to make bail for just anyone. The factors that a judge considers in evaluating the defendant for bail are quite similar to those that the bail bondman will consider. In many cases, the bail bondman also prefers to have a co-signer to the bail contract. The co-signer is typically a relative or friend who promises to pay the full bail amount should the defendant skip town. In essence, the bail bondman is a surety to the court, while the co-signer is a surety to the bondman. This is the basic premise of the bail bonding business.

For many, the process of using a bail bondman will be a once in a lifetime occurrence – one that can be quite stressful, scary and emotional. Before calling a bail bondman, it is best to have as much information gathered as possible to ensure a smooth process. Below is a list of some of the items to consider.

  • Character references and phone numbers
  • Credit card or account numbers for payment
  • The name of the jail in which your loved one is being held
  • The amount of the bail, if possible
  • The charges against the defendant
  • Any other information you think would be pertinent to the case

Because the co-signer has a responsibility to ensure the defendant appears at all scheduled court appearances, being a co-signer for your friend or family member should not be taken lightly. In some cases, a bail bondman requires collateral, in addition to the bond premium of 10 percent. Collateral can range from a piece of land or jewelry to stock and bonds or even a vehicle. It is important to realize that collateral is forfeit if the defendant skips town. Therefore, you must be confident that your loved one will appear as scheduled and do the right thing.

When Should You Seek the Services of a Bail Bondman?

If your friends and family simply don’t have the lump sum of money needed to bail you out of jail, you should certainly consider the services of a bail bondman. Similarly, most people are not able to stay in jail and wait for their bail hearing, as it has a direct effect on their ability to earn money, raise a family, go to school, etc. For these reasons, our team at Lopez Bail Bonds always recommends contacting one of our agents to learn more about the process. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure that your experience is as smooth and successful as possible.

Founded in 1956, our family has been helping families just like yours for several decades. We have a sound reputation within the bail bond industry, and always offer the top level of customer service and care to our clients. We understand the sensitive nature of these situations and will work with you and your family to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

When you’re ready to learn more, we are just a phone call away. Connect with our team today at 888-694-9260. We look forward to hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and lasting business. Let’s get started!