When someone is arrested, they must report to the police station and remain there until their trial date. Most defendants, however, have the option of posting bond. Bail bonds in Texas enable people to spend their pre-trial time at home, going about their daily lives until their court date. The agreement will be successful as long as the defendant follows the terms of their bail bond and pays their bail payment. However, not everyone can afford the full cost of bail, so here’s what you should know about bail bond financing and how a bail bondsman may assist you.
There are various options for paying bail if you are considering it. You can pay the total bail amount in cash or issue a certified check at the courtroom or county jail if you have the money upfront.
Most people cannot afford to pay the bail sum in full right once, so they must seek a personal loan from a bank or borrow money from a friend or relative. Except for a few office charges, you will receive a full refund at the conclusion of the case. You can pay off the loan with only a few small costs if you get this money back. If you have bad credit, though, you will be unable to obtain a loan.
Using the services of a bail bondsman is the most typical way to pay for bail. Typically, you will only be required to pay a portion of the total bail cost; the actual bail amount will be determined by the bonds firm. If you prefer to post collateral rather than money, you will receive your assets once the case is completed and all financial matters have been resolved. However, if the defendant fails to show up for their court appearance, two things will happen:
- The defendant will be designated a fugitive and a bench warrant will be issued for their arrest;
- 2. If the money was paid to the courts, you will not get a cent and the bond will be forfeited to the county or city. In the case that you hired a bondsman, you will need to pay them 100% of the bond fee so they can pay the court.
Payment Plans for Bail Bonds
When it comes to paying your bail using a bondsman’s services, there are a few options. What you need to know about bail bond payment arrangements is as follows:
- You pay a little charge to your bondsman as a down payment. If you can’t afford the charge, you can work out a payment plan with your bondsman to pay a lesser down payment and pay the balance over time. You might be able to make up the difference through collateral.
- Installment Payments: If you can’t afford to pay the whole sum up front, you can secure a bail bond in installments. The larger your down payment, the more likely you are to be approved for a payment plan.
- Interest Rates: Bail bond agreements, like any payment plans, can have interest rates. The agent is in charge of determining these rates. Your interest rate will remain consistent if you pay your monthly payments on schedule. Payments that aren’t made on time can raise the interest rate.
- Co-Signers for Payment Plans: If you are unable to obtain bail on your own, you can seek assistance from a co-signer. They can sign for you if they have a strong credit score and are eligible.
