The average person never expects to find themselves involved with the justice system, but it only takes a brief moment to change your life forever. When the phone rings and your loved one is on the other line announcing an arrest, make the bail process easy by relying on an expert to guide you through the process.
Over the years in the bail bond industry, 24/7 Bail Bonds has gathered the experience that many of our clients find indispensable in the process of getting their loved ones out of jail. With a quick turnaround and courtesy bail agents ready to answer any question you might have, we’ve made a name for ourselves as one of the leading bail agencies in Georgia.
We’ve gained expertise in handling difficult situations when a loved one needs your help getting out of jail, and we’re happy to offer a how-to guide.
7 Types of Bonds You’ll Experience
There are seven types of bail bonds commonly used within the court of law. Out of those seven, three are the most important to you if you’ve received a phone call from a loved one who has been arrested.
Surety Bond
A bond process done through a bail bond agency. Often, it is one of the quickest ways to get your loved one back to you. The bond agent you work with will serve as the guarantor, allowing you to pay only a portion of the bail amount to the bail agent as a non-refundable fee as long as the contract between the agency and defendant is not violated.
Property Bond
A bond process that allows a defendant or guarantor to use real estate property as collateral for bail. The property must either be equal to or greater than the bail amount. Property bond’s legality and permissibility vary throughout the United States. In Georgia, you must have full rights to the property and must receive approval from the court before it is accepted. You may then be forced to wait weeks for relief.
Cash Bail
One of the most straightforward bond processes, yet one of the most difficult for many to achieve. A cash bail bond is paid in full with cash; while some courts might allow for payment to be made with a check or debit card, this is not a guarantee. At the end of the trial, as long as the defendant has met all required court dates, the money will be returned in full. However, difficulties can arise in obtaining the cash amount, whether due to insufficient funds or problems regarding the bank.
Beyond these three, there are four more types of bonds, though they are unlikely to be relevant to your situation. These include Citation Release, Recognizance Release, Federal Bail Bonds, and Immigration Bail.
The Important Steps of Bonding Out of Jail with a Surety Bail Bond
With a surety bond as one of the easiest and quickest ways to get your loved one out of jail, it becomes imperative to understand the necessary steps for bailing out your loved one. While a bail bond agency will do its best to work with you through the bailing process, there are things you need to do to help make that process smooth and guarantee your loved one is released in no time.
Gather Documents & Required Information
When your loved one calls for help, don’t let panic cloud you from gathering the critical facts and information. You’ll need to collect such vital information as your arrestee’s full legal name, date of birth, location of arrest, arresting agency, the charges they’re being accused of, the booking number, the jail holding them, contact info of all relevant parties, and the amount of bail needed. You may also need documents such as a legal ID, social security number, payment method, and pay stubs, but it’s best to ask your bail bond agent what specific documents you’ll need.
Having these available can speed up the process and make it easier for you and your bail agent to get your loved one released.
Contact a Trusted Bail Bond Agency
For a surety bond, you need to find a trustworthy bail bond agency to rely on. Not all agencies are the same. Don’t let impulse influence your choices; check through the reviews and client testimonials of your bail bond. We recommend trusting a bail bond agency that has a history, as it shows an existing relationship with the justice system that can help hasten the bail process.
Complete Paperwork & Pay Fees
Your bail bond agent will need you to fill out paperwork. This will outline several important facts about the bail bond process and the consequences if you fail to uphold your end of the contract. You’ll also be expected to pay the full amount of the fees expected of you.
Prepare for Release
Once you’ve finished with your bail agent, your loved one is likely to be released within the next few hours. It’ll be your responsibility to find a way to get them home safely. After they’ve been processed, make sure you know how to get them home.
Comply with the Courts
Once your loved one has returned home, the bail bond process isn’t over! The defendant is required to follow some guidelines, such as arriving on time to every court date, only leaving the state with the permission of the court and the bail agency, and avoiding rearrest. If any of these are found to be violated, you’ll be expected to pay the full bail amount, and you may incur further fines and charges.
24/7 Bail Bonds Can Make It Easy
24/7 Bail Bonds is committed to making the bonding process easy with our skilled, compassionate bond agents. With years of experience helping people get their loved ones out of jail, our connections with the court system have made us the number one choice for those seeking to get their loved ones out of jail fast, no matter when. We serve counties all through Georgia, including Bulloch, Bryan, Candler, Emanuel, Effingham, Evans, Jenkins, Montgomery, Rabun, Tattnal, Toombs, and Wheeler County.
No matter when you need us, our agents are just a phone call away, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.