You have likely heard on the news that “X person has been released on $25,000 bail.” What does that mean? How is that different from a bail bond?
Bail is basically insurance between the court and the person in jail. Defendants are given the opportunity to pay their bill in cash. However, most people cannot do this. This is where they turn to a bail bondsman who will post bail for them. For example, a defendant looking for a Hays County, Texas, jail release may look to a bail bonds company to get out of jail quickly.
There are two types of bail bonds. There are criminal bail bonds and civil bail bonds.
• A criminal bail bond guarantees that when a person is released from jail, they will reappear for trial when called by the court. This also guarantees payment for penalties and fines decided against the defendant.
• A civil bail bond is used in civil cases. This is a guarantee of payment of debt, which includes interest and costs that are assessed against the defendant.
How Do Bail Bonds Work?
The judge determines the amount of bail. If a defendant cannot cover the amount of bail on their own, they would contact us for help in the form of a bail bond. The defendant is required to pay the bail bond company a percentage of the bail amount.
The rest is secured via collateral, such as jewelry, stocks, a house, etc. If the defendant does not appear in court, the collateral is used to pay the bail. If they do appear in court, bail is dissolved, collateral is returned to the person who posted it, and the bail bondsman keeps the percentage given as a deposit as a cash fee.
At San Marcos Bail Bonds, we want to provide you with the solutions needed to get your loved one out of jail quickly. Contact us today at https://www.sanmarcosbailbonds.com/ to learn more about the process.