Preparing to Co-Sign a Bail Bond
When a person finds out a loved one has been arrested and sent to jail, there is a moment of shock that turns into panic, followed by the intense pondering of how to get him/her out of jail. Unfortunately, a major problem occurs when this person jumps to conclusions before thoroughly thinking it through.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, it is vital that you consider each detail of your next move. Co-signing a bail bond is often a great option, but there are a few things you should know before doing so. Take a look:
You are promising that the defendant will appear.
If the defendant turns out to be a no-show on his/her court date, you are in a big predicament. When you co-sign a bail bond, you are essentially vouching for the person, promising that they will make their court appearance. Therefore, as much as you want the best for your loved one, if you feel there is a chance they will fail to appear in court, you must reconsider co-signing for them. It will be much less trouble for everyone in the long run.
You can make condition requests.
Say, for example, the defendant has an alcohol problem. This causes you concern about whether they will make their court appearance in the near future. Well, as a co-signer of the bail bond, you will be able to request conditions regarding their release. You could request that they be sent directly to a substance abuse treatment program, which will help them get back on their feet, as well as greatly lessen the chance that they will skip out on court.
It is your responsibility to pay for the bondsman services.
You must pay your bail bondsman an extra chunk of change for his/her services. The price is low compared to the entire cost of the bail bond, but it is important you are aware of it. This payment can be made upfront or possibly through a payment plan.
You have the right to make the defendant go back to jail.
The whole idea of co-signing the bail bond is that the defendant will be released from jail. However, if a situation arises where you are concerned that the defendant will fail to appear in court, you can get them sent back to jail. For example, if the previously mentioned defendant with an alcohol problem begins showing signs of irresponsibility, you may want to keep everyone safe by simply sending them back to jail, as hard as it may be to make that decision.
Deciding whether to co-sign a bail bond is not a situation we would wish on anybody. However, if it happens, we want you to be as prepared and knowledgeable as possible!
When you or your loved one winds up in jail, your first call should be to Alabama Bail Bonds. We understand how stressful it can be trying to navigate the bail bonds process. Count on a licensed bail bondsman to make the process as easy as possible for you.
Alabama Bail Bonds of Tuscaloosa County
Tuscaloosa, AL
(205) 339-7109
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