You’ve likely heard of the term “bail bond,” but, unless you or someone you know has been arrested, you may not be familiar with what the term means. Bi-State Bail Bonds in Texarkana, TX, is here to give you more information on these important legal options, including what they are, how they work, and how to receive one if you or someone you know has been incarcerated.

After a person has been arrested and placed in jail, they must go to a bail hearing where a judge will set a bond price that must be paid before they can be released. If they can pay this amount, they are released from jail until their court date, where they’ll receive that payment back.  

However, if the defendant in jail is unable to post this amount—and they are unable to borrow the money from a friend or family member—they can request a bail bond from a local bondsman. A bail bond is a legal contract signed by a bail bondsman that makes them financially responsible for the entirety of the bond price if the defendant does not show up for their court date.

For example, if someone was arrested and their bond was set at $10,000, they may not be able to come up with this much money. So, they could call a bondsman and inform them of their situation. If they seem like a safe risk, the bondsman will sign the bail bond as a “surety,” meaning that they would have to pay the entire $10,000 amount if you failed to show back up for your trial.

In return for signing the bail bond, a bail bond agency will request a non-refundable fee, usually ranging from 10% to 20% of the bond amount. In some situations, they may also require to sign over collateral as insurance in case you do not to show up for the trial.

Bail bonds can help you get out of jail faster and potentially save you thousands of dollars in the long run. That’s why, if you have been arrested and desperately want to be released, you should call Bi-State Bail Bonds to speak with a professional bondsman about posting bail. Their 24/7 team has been helping clients in Texarkana and the surrounding areas get out of jail for 20 years, and they can help you too. Call them today at (903) 794-2245, or visit them online.