If you need to purchase a bail bond in California for a loved one, you may wonder how much this will cost you. Hopefully, your loved one is innocent. However, whether they’ve committed the crime they’re charged with or were mistakenly arrested, there will most likely be a significant outlay of money.
Like many things in California, bail is expensive. If you’re like most people, you will need to enlist a bail bondsman’s help. Instead of being responsible for the entire bail amount (which could be in the tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the charges), you pay the bondsman a non-refundable fee of about 10% of the bail amount. The bondsman will then take collateral for the rest. Collateral may include property such as real estate, vehicles, jewelry, stocks, or bonds. The bail bondsman will then post bail on your behalf.
Collateral will be returned to you when:
- Your loved one appeared in court and met all other conditions of bail.
- The charges are dropped.
For example, if bail is set at $10,000, you could secure a bail bond for $1,000, with collateral to cover the other $9,000. But what if you don’t have the $1,000 to give the bail bondsman? You might need to consider ways to save money and reduce your financial risk.
While every situation is different, here are a few suggestions:
1. Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney
There’s a good chance you will need a defense attorney as the case proceeds, so you might as well hire one now. Depending on the charges, a defense attorney may be able to negotiate a lower bail amount or convince the judge that your loved one is not a danger to himself or others and not a flight risk. If so, the judge may agree to release your loved one on their own recognizance—at which point, bail is not necessary.
2. Consider a Pawn Shop
If you have items to pawn, like jewelry, electronics, or art, you may be able to bring those items to a pawn shop as collateral, receive what they are “worth,” pay for the bail fee, and then give yourself some time to raise funds and get your items back. It is important to understand the terms of the loan and when you need to pay the pawn shop back to receive your item.
3. Choose a 24-Hour Bail Bondsman
What happens if you get a call that a loved one was arrested while you are in the middle of a shift at work? What if you need to finish an important project to get paid? A key advantage of 24-hour bail bond companies is that they can help when it’s convenient for you. You can finish your shift, get paid, or handle whatever you need to handle before you call, which could make all the difference financially.
4. Use a Cash-Back Credit Card
If you have room on a credit card with cash-back offers or reward points, this might be an option for paying the 10% bail bond fee. It won’t reduce the actual cost of the bail bond, but some credit card companies offer anywhere from 1-5% cash back or other rewards, adding a silver lining to this difficult situation.
5. Get a Credit on a New Card
Depending on your credit score and the offers available, you may be able to put the cost of bail or the bail bond on a new credit card. Some companies offer interest-free options or other rewards and cash-back bonuses that could take the sting out of posting bail.
6. Try to Come Up with the Full Bail Amount
Depending on the amount of bail and your unique situation, trying to post bail without a bail bond could be an option to consider. Remember, this carries significant financial risk, as you would not receive your money back if the defendant fails to appear in court or violates other terms of their bail. If you can come up with the money, however, you would get it back (minus certain court fees) once the defendant has appeared in court and fulfilled other obligations associated with their case. Or, if the charges are dropped, you could get your money back as well. It is also important to note that your money could be tied up for weeks, months, or even longer, depending on how long the case drags on.
7. Choose the Right Bail Bondsman
You have a lot of options when it comes to getting bail bonds in California. Unfortunately, like any industry, some bail bondsmen are better than others. Some bail bondsmen will drag out the process. This costs you precious time and energy that you could be focusing on your loved one’s defense.
You want to make sure that you choose someone who:
- Has experience
- Is fast and reliable
- Is discreet
- Is a true professional
Dan’s Bail Bonds is open 24/7, so you can bail out your loved one when it’s convenient. We also offer flexible payment plans and financing options to make sure our services are accessible to everyone. Dan has 20+ years of experience and can guide you through this process. A loved one’s arrest is stressful enough. Getting bail bonds in California should be quick, easy, and relatively painless.
If you need help with bail, call (888) 773-8037!