Bail is the amount of money a defendant will need to pay for them to wait for their trial out of jail. It allows the defendant to enjoy freedom as they wait for the court date. If you post the bail, appear in all your hearings and comply with the terms of your release, you get the bail amount back. However, you’ll forfeit the entire bond amount if you don’t appear on the set court hearing date.
In most cases, the bail amount is very high for defendants to afford the full amount on their own. In such situations, the services of a bail bond company come in handy. A bail bond company will post the entire bond amount on behalf of the defendant and secure their freedom at a fee. Thus, bail bonds allow the defendant to post a bail they wouldn’t have otherwise afforded on their own.
Different types of bonds exist, and each one has unique requirements. If you or your loved one has been arrested, you need to know the different bail types and pick the right one for a smoother process. This article explores the different types of bond types.
Cash Bail
As the name suggests, cash bail is a bail bond paid in full and with hard cash, a check, or a credit card. Cash bail is a great option for defendants with enough liquid money to post the bail in full. The best thing about cash bail is that the court will refund the entire bond amount when your case is over. However, you’ll need to appear on all your court dates and appointments to get the money back.
Property Bond
A property bond is a bail bond type where the defendant provides the court with the property as collateral for their release. In most cases, the court requires the property’s value to be 1.5 times higher than the bond’s value. The most commonly used type of property bond is real estate, but other personal possessions are also acceptable.
However, not all states and counties allow for a property bond. Also, unlike a cash bail that can grant you freedom in a few hours, a property bond can take very long before it goes through. The delay occurs since the court will need to verify the property value, inspect and go through different paperwork, which can take weeks to complete.
Surety Bond
If you can’t afford the full bail amount or don’t want to risk the forfeiture of the cash bond, a surety bond can be a great choice. A surety bond is where a bail bond company will post the entire bail amount on behalf of their client (the defendant). The bail bond company will charge a certain percentage of the total bail amount as a fee for this service. If, as the defendant, you fail to attend your court hearing, the court may issue a warrant for your arrest.
Recognizance Release
Recognizance release is a type of bond where the judge releases the defendant without them having to pay any money. The defendant is entirely responsible for attending all hearings, failure to which the court may issue a warrant of arrest. This bond type only applies to low-risk cases only.
Immigration Bail Bond
An immigration bail bond is similar to cash bail but exists only for defendants who are non-citizens. This bail bond has stringent requirements and can take very long to complete. Also, securing an immigration bail bond can be very challenging due to its complexity. If you want an immigration bail bond, work with an experienced bail bond company with in-depth knowledge of this bond type for guidance.
The right bail bond not only ensures fast jail release but restores your peace of mind. If you’re seeking bail bond service, pick a reputable bail bond company for professional and timely services. At Hand in Hand Bail Bonds, we’re here for all your bail bond needs and to guide you through every step of the process.
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