If you find out that one of your family members is in jail, you probably want to get them out quickly by posting bail. If you've never done this before, this process can seem complicated. It doesn't have to be if you remember these tips.
Find Out the Bail Amount
In order to get your family out of jail on bail, you have to pay the exact bail amount. How much you pay will depend on the severity of the charge. To find out how much you need to pay, you'll need to visit the jail that they're at in person.
Once you arrive, there should be a processing machine near the entry door. You'll then enter your family member's personal information. Their bail amount will be listed, and if you want, you can pay it right then and there if you have enough money.
Work With a Bail Bondsman
The bail amount that's assigned to your loved one may be too much to pay out of pocket. If there are no ways you can get this money, you should consider working with an experienced bail bondsman.
This professional will post the full bail amount as long as you pay a percentage of it. This way, you don't have to put yourself in a financial hole when trying to get your family out of jail. There are even some bail bonds services that accept other forms of collateral if you can't pay the percentage in cash.
Follow Up With Court Dates
When your loved one gets out of jail, you may feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. However, it's important to remember that there are still steps your family member needs to take. Most importantly, they need to show up to their proceeding court dates.
If they don't, they could suffer severe legal punishment. You will also suffer financially because part of your agreement with the bail bondsman was that your family member has to show up to court. So that they don't miss any important dates, mark them on a calendar. You may even want to take them to court yourself to ensure they're on time and at the right location.
Jail is a place no one wants to find themselves. If your family member ends up here, make sure you take the right actions when posting bail. When you understand what this process involves and act fast, you and your family can move on from this stressful event.
Share5 December 2018
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