Questions To Ask a Bail Bondsman
Questions To Ask a Bail Bondsman
Bail Bonds Education Center Miami
When you are looking for a bail bond agency to work with, things are already stressful, and your thoughts are not on business. However, there is a fine line between providing a service to someone at a low point in life and extorting those who cannot afford options. It can be easy to take money from the first person who offers, but there are some important questions you should take the time to ask before you sign any contracts for bail bonds in Miami-Dade County, FL. Review our Optimal Bail Bonds tips below!
EXPLORING THE JUDGE'S ROLE, CONDITIONS, AND EXCEPTIONS
Judges are responsible for setting bail amounts. However, many people don’t want to wait until they see a judge to pay their way out, so many courts have standard bail schedules or use an algorithm to calculate bail. An individual can get out of jail quickly if they pay the listed amount. Bailed-out defendants must then follow conditions of release or be re-arrested and returned to jail.
For some crimes, such as felonies, violent crimes, or credible threats, bail may be denied and the defendant may be required to remain in jail until seen in court. This is common when the defendant is charged with, and the evidence against them is great, violence or sexual assault against another person to prevent further harm.
1. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE BAIL BOND PROCESS?
It does not matter if you already have a firm understanding of bail bonds in Miami-Dade County or if this is the first time you have heard the term “bail bond” — ask this question and pay attention to the answer. Any legitimate bail bondsman will be happy to explain it all to you. Be leery of any Florida bail bond agency that wants to rush you, hesitates in answering questions, or appears frustrated at your questions.
2. ARE YOU LICENSED?
Being a licensed bail bondsman is important to the legitimacy of the business and the trustworthiness of where the money is coming from. Any legitimate bail bondsmen bail bond agency will be licensed through their state’s Division of Insurance. In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, bail bond agencies are licensed through the State of Florida, and Optimal Bail Bonds holds license number W097611.
3. HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU GET ME OR MY LOVED ONE OUT OF JAIL?
Unfortunately, there is no way for a bail bondsman to know when he or she can get your loved one out of jail. However, this question is a good one to ask. If an agent gives you a timeframe — “within the next three hours, if you sign the contract to get the process started now” or “tomorrow, as we are only able to process bonds during normal business hours” — do not sign anything. Reputable bail bond agencies in Miami-Dade County will be familiar with the local court system and will also caution you about the things that may affect these times.
4. WHAT DO YOU CHARGE?
As a standard, you should expect to pay — and not be refunded — approximately 10 percent of the total bail amount. If an agency is requesting more, ask them why. If the bail bond agency offers a too-good-to-be-true discount, it probably is! For example, if the agency states that they will post bail for three percent, question it; the industry standard is 10 percent.
5. READ THE CONTRACT.
It is extremely important to read the contract that you are signing with any Florida bail bond agency. Make sure there are no shady clauses and that you are not signing anything over other than the agreed-upon bail bondsman fee. The standard fee that you pay the bond agency is 10 percent (or the negotiated percentage) of the total bail cost, and they pay the entire bail, then reclaim their money when your case is settled.