If you currently owe a debt to a bail bondsman, or considering signing a bail bond agreement on behalf of another, you may be concerned about the possibility of garnished wages. Continue below to learn what you need to know about bail bond contracts and the potential consequences of failing to repay a bail bond debt.

Bail Bond Agreements

To understand your responsibility under a bail bond agreement, it helps to learn how a bail bond company operates. You see, when a person is arrested and detained in county jail, they or someone they know can contact a local bail bond company to acquire a bail bond in order to get a defendant released from custody. But in order for a bail bondsman to get a defendant released, they must sign a contract themselves known as a “surety bond”, which holds them liable for the full bond amount in the case that the defendant fails to appear for court.

Since the bail bondsman is liable for the full bond amount set by the judge if the defendant fails to appear (FTA), they too have their own company agreement that holds the cosigner liable for that same amount under the same circumstances. Basically, the purpose of a bail bond agreement is to protect the bail bond company from having to pay back the full bond amount to the jail if a person forfeits their bail. It also plays a role in giving defendants a financial incentive to appear for their court hearings.

Signing a Bail Bond Contract

Once you decide to sign a bail bond contract, whether to get yourself released from jail or someone else, you take on the same liability that the bail bond company took on when they signed the surety bond. In fact, the entire liability is essentially transferred to you. After signing, if you or the person you bailed out of jail fails to appear for court, you will be legally accountable to pay back the entire bond amount. For instance, bail set at $5,000 will cost you between $500 and $750 for a bail bond; money that you do not get back. If you or the person arrested fails to appear for court, you are responsible for paying back the $5,000 in full.

If all goes as planned, the bail bond company is relieved of their financial liability, plus receives the non-refundable fee you pay for the bail bond service. You can expect to pay anywhere from 10 to 15% of the total bond amount for an Indiana bail bond. See our blog, “How to Use a Local Bail Bondsman When in Jail” for help on getting a prearranged bail bond for an arrest warrant, or to get a loved one out of jail.

Garnished Wages

Now that you understand bail bond agreements and liability, you can understand the circumstances of garnished wages. Bail bond companies have the same legal rights as all other creditors, which means they can pursue a lawsuit and have a court order you to pay the debt owed to them. If this happens, and you are unable to pay the outstanding bail bond debt, your wages can be garnished.

The bail bond company will apply for a writ of execution, which is served by the sheriff’s office directly to the debtor’s employer. Subsequently, the employer is bound by law to withhold, and then remit, a portion of the debtor’s wages to the bail bond company. See our blog, “Can I Get Financial Assistance for a Bail Bond?” to learn your options for getting help with the cost of bail in Indiana.

Where to Get the Cheapest Bail Bonds in Indiana

Right now, Woods Bail Bonds is currently offering 8% bail bonds! This is the lowest rate in years, and only available here! That means you only pay 8% of your total bond amount, rather than the standard 10 to 15% rates required across the state. In order to qualify for this low rate, you must meet certain criteria. Best of all, we serve over 33 Indiana counties with reliable, 24 hour bail bonds, even on National holidays. Call 317-876-9600 to talk to a friendly and knowledgeable Indiana bail bondsman to learn if you can qualify for 8% bail bonds in Indiana!

Whether your loved one was just arrested or you have just discovered an arrest warrant for yourself, opting for a bail bond through a bail bond agency is a much better choice than the alternatives. Continue reading to learn why.

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

For those who are not lucky enough to be released from jail on their own recognizance, also known as an “OR” release, there is an obligation to pay. You can either choose a cash bond or a bail bond; the difference is determined by how much you want to pay, as well as, how much available cash you’re willing to give up to get out of jail.

Cash Bonds

Defendants have the option to forgo a bail bond by paying their entire bond amount up front in cash. This cash is paid directly to the jail or the court as a deposit, which will be returned to the defendant once they cooperate with and complete all court orders. However, before the deposit is returned, applicable legal fees are deducted.

The advantage to this option is that you get your money back; the disadvantage is that you must put up a large quantity of cash. Bonds generally average within the thousands in terms of dollars, and many people do not have $5,000 or $10,000 to give up during the course of the criminal justice process, and still being able to keep up with mortgage payments, rent, child care, groceries, and other financial responsibilities.

Another notable disadvantaged of cash bonds is that, in some states, courts have the discretion to deduct other monies owed, including child support payments, back taxes, and more. This can happen even if the defendant shows up for all court hearings and wins their case.

Bail Bonds

Bail bonds, also known as surety bonds, are the most common method used to obtain a release from jail, safely and securely. This option is so popular because defendants only need to pay a percentage of their total bond amount to the bail bond company. Although this fee is nonrefundable, it is considerably less than the full bond amount.

It is important to note that the bail bond fee does not include any court or legal fees, which means defendants are obligated to pay these costs out of pocket in addition to their bail bond. Bail bond fees are regulated by the state insurance department, and generally range between 10 and 15%. So if you’re bail bond is $5000, you can expect a bail bond agency to charge you anywhere between $500 and $1500 for their services.

In order to use a bail bond, defendants (and/or cosigners) must sign a contract that legally obligates them to cooperate with all court orders, including showing up for all court appearances. If the defendant fails to do so, they (or whoever signed the bill on contract) will be required to pay the bail bond agency the remaining bond amount, or risk legal repercussions.

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Can a Bail Bond Company Garnish My Wages?