Posts tagged with "Delaware County Bail Bonds"

First Call – Bail Bondsman or Lawyer?

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The last place anyone wants to find themselves is behind bars in a jail cell. But if you do, your first concern is getting out as quickly as possible. After you’ve been taken into police custody and booked, you will be arraigned. This is where you will be read the formal charges and possibly be given the opportunity to post bail – a set amount of money determined by the judge that you need to pay in exchange for your release.

So who do you call first when you’re in this predicament? Do you phone your lawyer to be present for your initial hearing, or do you contact a bail bondsman to secure your release from jail as soon as possible? If you can afford both, call both. However, the majority of people don’t have the funds to afford both, so that’s likely not an option for you either. The fact of the matter is bail bondsman can potentially secure your immediate release from prison. A lawyer often cannot. Once released from prison, you can then work on securing an attorney to represent you. But without posting bail, you’ll be doing all of that from behind prison bars.

When you’re facing criminal charges, jail is not the place you want to be while you await trial. You’ll want to be home with your family, receiving the support you need, and return to work and normal activities. Liberty Bail Bonds has locations all across Pennsylvania to assist you with Delaware county bail bonds. Contact us immediately should you find yourself in need of our assistance.

 

Different Types of Bail Bonds

 When a person is arrested, it is not uncommon for the judge to set bail for the accused person. In cases where a person is accused of a serious crime, such as homicide, or they are a flight risk, bail may be denied, and they must stay in jail, but in many cases, bail is set. Bail, or a criminal bond, is a financial guarantee that the defendant will appear for all future court appearances. This means a person must pay all or part of the designated bail amount set by the judge in order to be released from jail.

There are several different types of bail a judge might order. Which type depends on the charges, criminal history, and other factors. The four most common types of bail bonds used to secure a defendant’s release from jail are their own recognizance, cash bond, property bond, and a surety bond.

Own Recognizance: This type of bond means no money is required for release, but the defendant must sign a legal form stating they promise to appear in court as required in the future. This arrangement is only allowed when the crime is nonviolent, and the suspect is not considered dangerous or a flight risk.

Cash Bail:  This means paying the entire bond in cash. In some instances, the court will accept checks or credit cards, but this is not always permitted.

Property Bond: In this case, the defendant can put up financial property, such as their home or other real estate, as collateral as opposed to paying their bail in cash.

Surety Bond: Most people don’t have the funds needed to post bail and instead choose to use a bail bondsman. A Delaware County bail bonds company can post a defendant’s bond to release them from jail. For surety bonds, a bail bondsman typically charges a non-refundable fee. This fee covers their risk in the event the defendant does not appear in court.

What to Do When You Need a Bail Bond in Delaware County

When you or a loved one has found yourself on the wrong side of the law, you might be looking at how to post bail as quickly and efficiently as possible. The key to achieving that goal is to work with a trained bail bondsman who can provide you with your Delaware County bail bonds.

The key to finding the right bail bondsman for your specific situation is to better understand the bail bond process itself. A bail bond is like a contract between the person who posts the bond and the government. This contract states that the accused will show up for any and all court dates or the bail money will be forfeited. When working with a bail bond agent, they put the money up for you for a nominal percentage, and then ensure the accused does as the court demands.

In general, the fee for working with the bail bondsman is typically 10% of the defendant’s total bail amount. If the accused does not show up for their required court dates, then you will be required to pay the full bail amount to the court.

Remember, the sooner you reach out to a bail bondsman, the sooner they can get to work helping you or a loved one get out from behind bars.