Learning About Finance and Money

The Pros And Cons Of Using A Bondsman For Bail Money

7 March 2016

Jordy De Pijper

If a loved one has been arrested, the court might have set bail for them. At this point, it is up to you to decide if you will pay the court directly for the full amount or go through a bondsman. Here are some pros and cons of using a bondsman for the bail money.

Pro: You won't pay as much upfront

When you use a bail bondsman, the main benefit is that you only need to pay a deposit. This reduces how much you need to pay in cash in order to get your loved one or friend released from jail. If their bail is set at $10,000, you might not have that much cash on hand, or you may not be able to withdraw the money from the ATM. If you want your loved one released in the evening or over the weekend, it requires help from a bondsman. You simply pay a percentage of the bond amount as a deposit, then get your loved one released.

Con: You have to provide collateral

In addition to paying a deposit to the bondsman, you also need to provide collateral in many cases. The bail bondsman needs to know there is a way to cover the remaining bond amount if the person does not show up for their court appearances and the rest of the bail is not paid for. This may be collateral in the form of your car or house. You could lose your collateral if the remaining bond is not paid for, so keep that in mind when you choose this option.

Pro: They get released faster

Since you aren't paying as much money upfront for the bail, your loved one can get released faster. You don't have to wait until the weekend is over when you can get into the bank and get enough cash out of your account. You can avoid having to sell some of your belongings just to get the money you need. You might be concerned about them being in jail overnight with the dangers and risks associated with staying in a jail cell with other, possibly dangerous, people.

Con: The deposit is non-refundable

When you pay a bail bondsman a deposit to get your loved one released from jail, you will never get that back. Even if the case is thrown out by the courts, the deposit can't be refunded since it is the fee for the bondsman's services. However, if you paid the jail outright for the cost of bail money, you will likely have it refunded if the case turns out to lack sufficient evidence and never ends up in court.

Pro: The bondsman handles communications

It is also helpful to have a bondsman handling communications and paperwork with the jail so you don't have to. As soon as you pay your deposit, you will fill out the required paperwork, and the bondsman sends it over to the jail right away. They will let the jail know the bond has been paid by them, and that your loved one can be released. All you need to do is head down to the jail to pick them up or arrange transportation.

To learn more about bail bonds, contact a company like Absolute Bail Bonds. 

Share