What Is A Bail Bond?

A bail bond is a financial arrangement to secure someone’s release from jail or prison. Bail bonds can be unsecured or secured; they come in two forms: cash and property. Cash bail is often the most expensive. Unsecured bail, on the other hand, is cheaper. Surety bail is a common type of bail bond and can be negotiated down to as low as 10%.

Cash Bail

Typically, a cash bail bond is given as a guarantee for a defendant’s appearance in court. If the defendant fails to show up, he forfeits his money. It makes cash bail bonds a reasonable alternative, but the principle of buying freedom by handing over your own money to a bail agent is flawed. In addition, the bail bonds hours Arkansas might take only half an hour to several hours, depending on how packed the jail in your location is. 

Cash bail bonds are a common alternative to surety bonds and are generally the easiest to obtain. Although a third party secures both types of bonds, the cash bail bond is the most expensive. In addition, if the defendant fails to show up in court, the cash bond holder forfeits his money, and his property is at risk. While cash bail bonds can be an excellent option for some people, they can only be used for a small portion of the total bail amount.

Property Bail

In the United States, a bail bond is a promise made by a defendant to appear in court, and property is a common form of collateral. A property bond requires a homeowner to pledge their equity in a piece of real estate in the state where the arrest occurred. A property with at least 1.5 times the bail amount is typically sufficient. Other options include vacation homes and commercial buildings. A property bond ensures that the defendant will appear in court and that no one else will be able to claim the property.

Unlike traditional bail bonds, property bonds require a court-appointed appraiser to assess the property’s value. Tax documents are usually sufficient proof, but getting a property bond based on a smaller amount is possible. Depending on the state, a court-appointed appraiser must determine the property’s value. If a property has more than one owner, the bond will require that each owner sign an agreement allowing the bond to be used.

Surety Bail

If you have ever been accused of committing a crime, you should know the differences between surety bail bonds. A surety bond guarantees that the other party will fulfill its promising obligation. If the other party does not fulfill its part of the deal, the surety bail company will pay the full amount of the bail in exchange for a 10% fee. This way, the accused can fight their case outside jail without worrying about losing everything.

While most people do not have the financial means to pay the full amount of bail, finding an affordable surety bond is possible. Bail in the United States is typically set at a dollar amount above the average person’s means. For this reason, most people can’t afford to pay the full amount themselves. So instead, they purchase a surety bond and pay it back over time. The surety bond company guarantees that the defendant will appear in court, or they will pay the court if the defendant does not.

Unsecured Bail

An unsecured bail bond is a form that does not require any money or property to be put up as collateral. Instead, it is granted by a judge who has a good faith belief that the defendant will appear in court. While the amount of an unsecured bail bond is smaller than that of a secured one, it is still significant enough that it is a risk for the bail bondsman. Typically, unsecured bonds are only available for minor crimes and people with good credit.

The most obvious disadvantage to an unsecured bail is that it creates a disincentive to return to court. If a defendant fails to appear for trial, they forfeit their unsecured bail and must face jail until they can be tried. The court can then file charges against them for bail jumping and contempt of court. Aside from the high costs of unsecured bail, this method is also not a good idea for people with poor credit.