The most common way a defendant secures his or her release is through the posting of a bond by a Bail Bond Agent. This process involves a contract whereby an Insurance Company (Also known as a “Surety” company) with adequate assets guarantees the full value of the bond. A licensed Bail Bond Agent who is under contract with the Surety Company promises to pay the surety for losses and related costs if the defendant fails to make any scheduled court ordered appearances.
The Bail Bond Agent posts the bond for a client after they (or their loved ones) sign an agreement stating that the client (A.K.A. Defendant) agrees to full cooperation throughout the entire legal proceedings. Because Bail Bond Agents are responsible for the Surety Company’s money, they have a vested interest in making sure that the client appears in court as ordered, each and every time.
Under this agreement, the client is charged a fee, which in California is 10% of the Bail Bond Face value. Again, the fee is called a premium and it is established by the state Insurance Commission. To purchase a $10,000 Bond would cost $1,000. Once the defendant has fulfilled all their court-ordered appearances, the Bail Agent is returned their $10,000 bond and the contract is over.
The bail agent performs the following services for the client:
- Arranges for the client to be out of custody until his appearance in court, thereby allowing for the continuance of daily life until the case is resolved.
- Provides the client with details of the bond transaction as required by law.
- Sees that the client appears in court as scheduled.
- Assists in the location of the client should the client not appear in court.
- Appears before the court regarding the bail bond as needed.
- Holds any collateral, if collected, until the bond is exonerated by the court.
If the client “skips” bail, the bail bond agent must track them down, or hire a bounty hunter to do it for them. If, after 180 days, the client has not been delivered to the court, the Bail Agent must pay the full face value of the bond to the court. The Bail Agent can then foreclose on homes, cars, personal property, or whatever collateral has been posted on behalf of the client. Bail Agents are authorized by the court to make arrests, and usually do so before the situation warrants foreclosures.
At Dan’s Bail Bonds, our qualified Bail Bond Agents help people throughout Los Angeles, including Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange County. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are ready to help you with your Criminal Bail Bond, Federal Bail Bond or Surety Bond.
Contact a Los Angeles Bail Bond Agent at Dan’s Bail Bonds today!
