What Makes a Good Bail Bondsman

Being in jail or the custody of ICE can be one of the most difficult times in a person’s life. It is also extremely difficult for family and friends. If the person being held is granted the option of bond and they can afford to pay the bond, they are allowed to leave custody while awaiting trial. While some courts do offer a cash bond and many even allow a person to pay only a percentage to release someone on bond, that’s not true of every court.

In such cases, a Bail Bondsman (sometimes known as a Bail Agent) can be the only way a person can afford bond. Bail Bondsmen are very helpful when it comes to the speedy release of a person from custody. But, in a situation where many of us have no experience and no idea of how things may work, how do you know if you’ve found a good, reputable Bail Bondsman?

You may be tempted to rush into choosing a Bail Agent so that you can get the arrested person out of jail as quickly as possible. However, taking a few moments to carefully evaluate your choices will not cause any harm, and, in fact, may help avoid problems in the future. As with anything you spend your money on, there are good and bad Bail Bondsmen. How do you tell which is which?

The amount of money you will have to pay a Bail Bondsman is fairly standard. Most charge 10-12% of the total bond amount for their services. You may want to think twice about using a bond company that charges significantly more than the industry standard, unless they are offering extra services or there is some extraordinary circumstance. The bond company itself can vary from one man in a questionable office to a fully staffed sleek complex of offices. Either one may be equally effective and professional. Here are a few things to look for to make sure.

• Where did you find them? Do they have billboards or signs everywhere you look? Did you open the yellow pages and pick them from their half page color ad? That’s usually a good sign you’ll be able to reach them when you need them.

• Speaking of reaching them… Did they answer when you called? Were you able to speak to someone right away? Did they answer all of your questions? If this is all new to you, did they offer helpful information to make this difficult process a little easier for you?

• Are they upfront about their fees and what you can expect from your Bail Bondsman?

• Is the Bail Bondsman courteous and helpful? Keep in mind that the Bail Agent will be responsible for making sure a person shows up for court, so he or she may not be overly friendly, but should always be professional, easy to understand, as well as patient and empathetic. They should also be prompt with any required paperwork or other items that you or the court may need.

Consider using an online service to find your Bail Bondsman. Visit us at 1800Libertad.com or call us at 1-800-Libertad (1-800-542-3782). Let us do your research for you. We have only reputable, licensed Bondsmen for you to choose from.