Are Bail Bond Fees Required Upfront?

When it comes to making any type of significant payment, one of the first things that comes to mind is whether or not you can afford to front that much cash at the time. As for the bail bond industry, this particular question is a common one because the cost of bonds is usually in the high hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Accordingly, one of the most common questions asked by bail bond clients has to do with upfront fee requirements. This is not such a surprising question; after all, many legal professionals use differing payment arrangements and payment models for their services, including hourly rates, retainers, upfront fees, and billed invoices.

If you are seeking to bail a friend out of jail, or bail yourself out of jail in the case that you are surrendering to an arrest warrant, you will need to understand how bail bond agents charge for their services. Continue below to learn what to expect when paying for a bail bond.

Cheap Indianapolis Bail Bonds
Cheap Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Bail and Bail Bonds

There are two different figures to pay attention to when learning how much you will need to pay to get out of jail, and when you will need to pay it. The first is the bail, and the second is the bail bond. A judge will set a defendant’s bail within the first 24 hours of being detained. Most often, this number is high, usually at least $1,000. Depending on the county of arrest, courts will adhere to a set bail schedule to assign a cost to a defendant’s bail. The more serious and severe the crime, the higher the bail is set.

⚖ According to the Bill of Rights, the 8th Amendment prohibits the federal government from being unfair or malicious when setting bail, specifically stating, “excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

Unless you are prepared to pay the entire bail amount directly to the court, which again is usually in the high thousands, you will want to focus more on the price of a bail bond rather than the bail. The cost of a bail bond is a set percentage of the total bail amount. So, if the defendant’s bail is set at $5000, and the bail bond company charges a 10% fee, you can expect to pay $500 for a bail bond. Keep in mind, bail bond fees are nonrefundable.

However, if you pay the courts directly, that money is refunded so long as the defendant appears for all scheduled court hearings. Furthermore, bail bond agents are allowed to charge whatever percentage they like upon their own discretion, so long as is it is within the states set bail bond rate. This is usually between 10 and 15%, however some states are now allowing bail bond companies to charge as low as 8% for the services.

When You Have to Pay

If you are choosing to use a bail bond company to get out of jail, whether for yourself or for a friend, you will always have to pay upfront. In some cases, a bail bond agent might allow a client to pay after getting out of jail, but only if they are being picked up by the bail bondsman directly and going straight to the office to complete the payment. This is common procedure for prearranged bail bond service for arrest warrant surrenders.

How to Get Out of Jail Fast in Indianapolis, Indiana

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for fast, safe, and secure bail bonds in Central Indiana. We serve the entire state, as well as the Indianapolis region, including Hamilton County, Marion County, Hancock County, Hendricks County, and more! From convenient customer services like free jail pick up and drop off, to 24 hour emergency bail bonds, free jail and courthouse information, and more, we are truly your best option for fast bail bonds near you. We operate 24-7-365, even on National holidays. Request a free estimate, anytime!

Indiana Bail Bonds 317-876-9600
Indiana Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

When Do You Need a Bail Bondsman in Indiana?

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

There are countless situations in which a person could benefit from the assistance of a bail bondsman. Not all situations are exactly alike; they differ from person to person and case to case. However, bail bonds are an effective and responsible method to obtain a fast and secure release from jail; and a bail bondsman can help someone obtain that release.

Continue reading to learn more about bail bondsmen and how their services help people in a variety of different circumstances within the industry.

First Time Offenders

For anyone arrested and taken to jail for the first time in their lives, a bail bondsman can be very advantageous. They are the professionals in the situation; so they can instruct you on everything from how to behave in jail to what documents you need to bail yourself out. Bail Bondsmen are great resources for guidance when it comes to getting out of jail.

Extreme Bond Amounts

If you are a high profile person, celebrity, or business mogul; then it wouldn’t be a problem paying a court the entire bond amount to release you from jail. These bond amounts can range anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000, depending on the particular charges. An ordinary person on an average payroll isn’t likely to have that kind of cash availability. In these cases, you need to hire a bail bondsman to cover the entire bond amount, while paying them a portion for their services. They charge you only a small percent of the bond amount and pay the courts off themselves. In return, you are required to appear for all court dates or you forfeit the rest of the bond amount. Not only are you obligated to pay the bond amount in full, the bail agency will track you down and have you arrested again. It is never a good idea to skip bail.

Arrest Warrants

When a person is turning themselves in on an outstanding arrest warrant, they will need the help of a bail bondsman to get out of jail the same day. If you have any type of warrant issued for your arrest, it is important to turn yourself into authorities as soon as possible. Call a bail bondsman to arrange your release ahead of time so that you may leave right after you are processed into the jail’s system. This is the fastest way to take care of an arrest warrant.

24 Hr Bail Bonds for Indianapolis

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

If you would like to know more about the advantages of a bail bondsman in Indianapolis, Indiana, call Woods Bails Bonds today. James Woods and his team of bail bondsmen are industry professionals that retain extensive experience and knowledge in the bail services industry. Their licensed bail agents can provide a fast, friendly, and secure release from a long list of jails in Indiana. Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 today to speak with a live bail bondsmen in Indianapolis, IN.