Bail Bonds: My Husband is In Jail, How Do I Get Him Out If I Have No Money?

Bail Bonds: My Husband is In Jail, How Do I Get Him Out If I Have No Money?

Once your husband’s bail has been set, if you cannot afford to pay the entire bond amount to the court to hold until after the case is finished, you can use a bail bond company, as long as your state allows it. Knowing how it works before leaving the house will make it an easier experience. Finding a bail bond company: The jail probably gave your husband a list of local companies when they booked him in. Ask him for the numbers if he can call you. If not, look online by searching “bail bonds” and your city or county name, and you will come up with a list. Call them: Bail bonding agencies are open 24 hours a day, for obvious reasons. Have the information about your husband’s arrest with you when you call. If you are missing anything the bail bondsman needs, don’t worry. They typically have a good working relationship with the jail and can call over and find it all out. Explain the situation and that you want to bond him out. They will call the jail to verify what you are telling them about his charges, the bond amount and to be sure new charges haven’t been added. If they agree to bond him out, you take the next step. Ask about fees: Bail companies promise the court that if the court will release your husband, they will guarantee that he will appear at all court dates for the case. If he doesn’t do that, the bail bond company will pay the entire amount of your husband’s bond to the court. In exchange for this service you must pay a fee and a percentage of the bond. For example, the bond on your husband is $15,000 and the bail company charges 10% plus a $150 fee. The cost to you to get him out of jail will be $300 total. You don’t get that money back but it is much easier to come up with $300 than it is the entire $15,000. Signing: In most cases you or your husband or both will have to sign an agreement with the bond company that promises he will go to every court date for that case. In addition, the bail bond company might ask you to sign that you will use your house or car as collateral in the event your husband skips out and doesn’t appear. Final thoughts: As long as he plans to appear in court and go through the judicial process, bailing him out is a good idea because it allows him to work, hire an attorney and fight the case from outside. You might be interested in: The commercial bail industry shouldn’t profit off financial desperation video Behind the bail bond system