How To Prepare For The Appointment With The Bondsman
If you are attempting to help a friend or family member get bailed out of jail and you need financial help with that, you will want to turn to a bondsman. If this is something that you have decided to do, you will want to make sure that you becoming as prepared as possible for your appointment. Here are a few things that you will want to read over in order to do just that:
Get Some Collateral Put Together
The bondsman is going to most likely ask for collateral for the money that they are putting up. The more money they have to pay to bail your friend or family member out of jail, the more the collateral needs to be worth. Some of the types of collateral a bondsman will accept include titles to RV, ATVs, cars, trucks, and pull-behind trailers. They can also accept deeds to homes, commercial properties, and cabins. If you have another type of collateral that you would like to offer, simply ask. Each bondsman that has their own business makes the rules about what they will and will not accept as collateral.
Gather Some Cash
In most cases, the collateral is simply not enough. You will find that most bondsmen will want a cash-down payment. They want to see that the people coming in for assistance are willing to use some of their own money. Those who put their own money on the line are less likely to disregard the rules and regulations that come as a part of the agreement made for the bail money. The amount that you need to pay in cash will depend on the bondsman and what they decide they need. It can be around ten percent of the total bail amount. If you do not have that kind of cash in your savings account, you could try to borrow the money from other friends and family, sell some personal possessions, or even get a payday loan if those are available in your state.
You will want to show up to your first meeting with the bail bondsmen with those things and be ready to read through a lot of paperwork. Make sure that you have a total understanding of what the papers state before you sign anything. If you have any questions, you will want to be sure to ask them. The bondsman wants you to be fully aware of the procedures, just as much as you do.