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Imagine you’re behind the wheel of your car and all of a sudden the dashboard lights begin to blink and you hear some odd sounds. Naturally, your instinct would be to take it to a mechanic, but before you do, you’d want to make sure to gather some basic details about the issue so you can explain the situation.
The way emergency bail bonds work is no different, and being prepared can make all the difference when it comes to a smooth bail bond process. Before you reach out to a Hidalgo County bail bondsman, there are a few things you should be made aware of.
A-Quick Bail Bonds near Hidalgo County Jail in McAllen, Texas, wants to make sure that no one in a sticky situation makes it worse by not having the right information. Here’s what you need to know before you contact a bondsman near you.
You May Not Need a Cash Bail at All
First of all, it’s important to know that you or your loved one may not need to pay a cash bail to be released on bond.
Defendants who are not deemed either to be a flight risk or danger to the communities may be eligible for a personal recognizance bond. This is the best-case scenario as you do not have to pay a single cent to be released from jail.
If your loved one is offered a personal recognizance bond, then there’s no need to call a bondsman!
Additionally, there are cases where the defendant can put non-cash assets up as collateral. These assets include:
Property or real estate
Financial investments such as stocks and bonds
Bank accounts
Of course, you should always be clear with the court on what is allowed and never assume that you can substitute an asset for cash.
The Specifics of Bail Money and Bond Fees
Financial details can be confusing regardless of the situation, so it’s helpful to understand exactly how the money and fees behind bail bonds work. These are some of the most important things to keep in mind:
Bond fees are regulated by each state – The state you are in plays a huge role in what your bail options will (or won’t) be. There are some states that have completely outlawed commercial bail bondsmen, while other states that allow them have heavily regulated bail bondsman's fees. This means that all bondsmen must be licensed by their state.
Bail bonds are loans – When a judge sets a defendant’s bail and they are able to pay it, the money is ultimately refunded to them as they kept their promise to go to court. However, if you are unable to afford the bail, you may need the help of a bondsman who covers the total cost now. There’s a non-refundable fee when you work with a bondsman.
Bond amounts cannot be excessive – If you think about the concept of bail, you may rightly come to the conclusion that extremely high bails benefit the rich and the less wealthy would all but lose access to this right. Therefore, our justice system has a provision that bail amounts cannot be “excessive,” and clients cannot be overcharged by any bail agency.
You Take Responsibility for Your Loved One
Probably the most important thing to take note of when you decide to seek out emergency bail bonds near you is that you will take responsibility for your loved one upon their release.
Not everyone understands the high financial risks that can be associated with bail bonds. If you accept responsibility for a defendant out on bail and they get arrested again or attempt to flee, you will be liable for the additional bail fees, court costs, and other financial consequences.
Keep in mind that this will extend to your agreements with bail bondsmen. If they have to hire a bounty hunter or face additional court fees, then there’s a good chance you’ll also be responsible for those extra payments.
The bottom line is, if you’re going to risk a lot of money on someone, make sure it’s someone you can trust.
A-Quick Bail Bonds: Bail Bonds Near You, When You Need Them
Now that you understand the many fine details of what to expect before you work with a bondsman, we hope that you feel more comfortable making that decision. At A-Quick Bail Bonds near Hidalgo County Jail, we guarantee that you and your loved one are in good hands.
Rest assured that our skilled bail bond agents will walk you through the details. Reach out to A-Quick Bail Bonds near Hidalgo County Jail for any info you need today!
