4 Tips to Make Posting Someone’s Bail Easier on Yourself
It’s a call that you likely don’t want to receive. A friend or family member is in jail and needs someone to post bail. If you make the decision to help, there are a few ways that the process can be easier on yourself.
1- Choose a Professional Services
One of the first things to do when someone contacts you from jail is to find a professional bondsman. You’ll be able to get the details about the bond and usually the details of the arrest by talking to someone from the office. The bondsman will be able to provide the best options that are available when it comes to how much money you’ll need to pay to post the bail and what types of collateral can be used if you don’t have all of the money upfront. Sometimes, a bondsman might be able to get a lower amount for the bail in order to save as much money as possible.
2- Have the Right Documents
Make sure you have all of the documents that the bondsman will need before you complete the process. You’ll usually need your identification, paperwork from the jail pertaining to the person who has been arrested and the charges, and titles to a vehicle or property if the bondsman will allow you to use those items for collateral. If you’re using a credit or debit card, make sure there is enough money in the account to post bail. When the person is released from jail, keep a copy of the documents for their court date to ensure that they go to court when they are scheduled. Keep a copy of the information for the bondsman as well so that you can contact them with any questions or if there are issues with the inmate before the court.
3- Consider Your Finances
When someone you know is in jail, you probably want to help them as much as possible. However, if you don’t have the finances to post bail, this is something that you should think about before hiring a bondsman. It’s not a requirement to post someone’s bail, and if you risk putting yourself in financial hardship, then the easiest thing to do would be to wait until you have more money. Sometimes, an attorney might be able to help with getting the inmate released so that you don’t have to spend all of your money. Keep in mind that if you use collateral, such as a car title, and the inmate doesn’t go to court, then you could lose the item that was used.
4- Ensure Reliability
Think about the person who is in jail before you begin the bail process. If this is a family member or close friend who is trustworthy and who has simply made a mistake, then you might be more inclined to help them. However, if the inmate is someone who has shown that they can’t be trusted or that they aren’t reliable, then the easiest thing would be to avoid the situation until you get more details or until they go to court.
Posting bail for someone isn’t something that you should be forced into. Take the time to process the information before talking with a bondsman about the next steps to take.
