Three Questions You Need to Ask Your Bail Bondsman before Hiring Him

Bail bondsmen are a necessary part of the American justice system, and in some cases, they’re easily accessible for people who want to get out of jail quickly. They make sure that people who have been arrested for low-level crimes can get out of jail quickly, so they aren’t stuck behind bars while waiting to go through trial—or worse, plead guilty because their families and jobs depend on them getting released before going back home or returning to work. However, you cannot just hire any person who claims to be a bail bonds agent. You need someone you can trust, and if the state doesn’t license them, then there is no reason why you should use them for your needs. So here are the three questions you need to ask a bondsman before hiring them to help you out.

1. How much do I need to pay?

Bail bondsmen fees are not uniform, and they often depend on what the charges against a person might be and whether or not it’s their first time getting locked up in this state (or even if they were arrested in another state). In addition, there are bondsmen who take an upfront fee and others that you pay a portion of the bond each month until it’s paid off. Most bondsmen, especially the licensed ones, will have lists of prices on their website, so you know what your options are.

2. How long will it take to get me out?

The purpose of bail is to make sure that people show up for court dates as well as any other proceedings, but it doesn’t mean that they have to stay locked up while you wait for them. If a person has bail set at $1,500 and the bondsman charges 10 percent (which is standard in many places), then it will cost about $150 per month for as long as your loved one stays out of trouble, so he or she can get out of jail. If you need a bondsman, contact one that is licensed and get the information about how long it will take to get your loved one out of jail.

3. How do I know you’re legitimate?

Working with a bail bondsman during a time when your family member or friend has been arrested can be stressful and confusing. You want a bail bondsman who will work with you quickly to get the person out of jail, but at the same time, it’s important that he is licensed, so there are no problems in court about him being an unlicensed bondsman. You can verify that a bondsman is licensed by the state you live in online or through your local courthouse, and if he isn’t, then don’t use him to help out when someone close to you gets arrested.

Dangers of working with an unlicensed bondsman 

There are a lot of people who claim to be bail bondsmen, but not all states license them. This means that they might try to take money from you and never help out with bail at all—and then leave the person stuck behind bars instead of getting them out. 

There are bondsmen who will charge you a lot more than what is legal in your state, and this can be dangerous for people with no means to pay them off as well as unfair when it comes time to get the person’s bond paid off.

How do you detect scam bail bondsmen?

First, if the bondsman pushes you to get started right away, then they might be fake. Secondly, If the bondsman is unwilling to answer questions about his license, then he might not be licensed at all. You can always ask for a copy of their bond and verify them online if you suspect that person isn’t legitimate. Lastly, If they are vague or refuse to give information on how much bail will cost, then they might be fake.

Asking the right questions before hiring a bondsman is important because you want to work with someone who will help your family member or friend get out of jail quickly. You don’t want to work with someone who is unlicensed, and you also need a bondsman that can give you answers about how much money will be needed for bail. At the same time, keep in mind what type of bond they offer and if there are any fees associated as well as their availability.