All Things Bail Bonds

That’s what a bail bond company does. You pay them money (10-25%) of the total bond and they put up their collateral for you.

My parents had to put up their house and bank accounts as collateral for my brother’s bond…besides giving the bail bondsman 10% in cash. The bail bondsman then took out liens on the house and bank accounts until the court’s sentencing.

The amount of money you’re talking about is more than would be required for a petty theft charge. If that was all they were charging your friend with you’d be looking at $250-$500 bail.

Now it seems your friend was arrested on drug dealing charges. Not quite petty theft. Let them garbage rot in jail.

They would have to pay the bondsman at least 10% of the bail. They would then have to supply some property that exceeds the value of the bail in order to secure the release of your friend.

If your friend makes their court date on schedule, the family would only be liable for the 10% they already paid the bondsman, all leins on their property placed by the bondsman would be released. Your buddy don’t show up for court … the family had better hope they didn’t put up any property they need as collateral … because they will lose it.

Bondsmen do not work for free, that 10% they request up front is their fee. The actual bail is covered by leins on property owned the the person posting the bail. If the person out on bail doesn’t make court, the bondsman has already collected his fee, and will take possession of any property put up for collateral to cover the bond. He will not be out a dime, the family could be out of their home!