If you or a loved one has been arrested, you’re probably wondering what the quickest way to get out of jail is. You will appear before a judge who will set a bail amount for you. A bail is just an amount of money you have to pay to be released from jail. Depending on your charges and a number of other factors, it may be more money than you have one hand. If you don’t post your bail, you will have to remain in custody until the time of your trial. Needless to say, a lengthy jail stay has extreme consequences for your life – your employment and housing may be jeopardized and you’ll miss valuable time with your family.
If you can’t get out on your own, contact a bail bondsman who, for a small fee, can post the bond for you and secure your release. You may be able to receive a no-collateral bond.
What Is Collateral?
Collateral is a thing of value that a person seeking a loan offers the lender as security to ensure the loan will be repaid. If the loan is not repaid, the lender can take possession of the collateral. A bail bond is essentially a contract between you and the bail bondsman that you will appear at your next court appearance. The bondsman loans you the money to post your bail, and then if you appear in court, once your case is resolved, the bond is released, and you have no further obligation to the bondsman.
Most bondsmen charge around 10% upfront fee for their bond. The rest may need to be secured with collateral. Nearly anything of value can be used as collateral. If you own property outright or possess equity in it, that can be used. Other types of collateral might be jewelry, vehicles, art, firearms, or valuable collections of such things as baseball cards.
Can I Get A No Collateral Bond?
Whether or not a bondsman will offer you a no collateral bond will depend entirely on the facts of your circumstances. It might be that if you can get a family member or friend to sign for the bond, no collateral will be required. Many bondsmen also offer payment plans or have other ways to work around the requirement for collateral.
Contact A Bail Bondsman
If you or someone you know has been arrested and cannot post the required cash bail, contact a bail bondsman. They are there to help you through this unexpectedly difficult time and can allow you to get on with your life while your case proceeds, perhaps slowly, through the justice system. Visit Bail Agent Network to find a bail bondsman in your area.
