Bail Bond Cosigner Liability Information You Need to Know

Posted on August 24, 2022 by admin

A bail bond indemnitor, or cosigner, is a person with a serious legal responsibility. If your friend or loved one was just arrested, take the time to consider all the liabilities involved with being a cosigner before you sign the legally binding contract to bail them out of jail. You can be held liable for hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars if they fail to abide by all court orders and bail conditions.

Continue reading to learn what these responsibilities entail, and who to call for trusted bail bond information in your county.

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Obtaining a Bail Bond For Someone Else is Serious Business

Using a bail bond is the easiest and most affordable method for obtaining a release from jail. But when you are faced with the decision to bail a friend or loved one out of jail, it is a decision you should never take lightly. That is because the legal liability attached to the bail bond contract is a serious undertaking, and whether or not you face the ramifications for those liabilities is all dependent on the choices of the person you are bailing out of jail.

Bail Bond Costs

Although you are only paying a fraction of the total cost of your loved one’s bond premium, the bail bond agent is covering the rest of the amount. So, if your loved one’s bond amount was $10,000, and the bail agent charges a 10% fee, you will pay a non-refundable fee of $1000, while the bail bondsman pays the courts the remaining $9,000. So long as the defendant appears for all scheduled court hearings and follows all court orders, they bail bond agent gets their $9,000 back.

But if the defendant violates any conditions of the bail bond agreement or court orders, the bail bondsman does not receive the money back until they can get the defendant to appear on the judge’s bench. They only have a certain time period to do this, and usually, they are unsuccessful. If this happens, you are responsible to pay the bail bondsman the remaining $9,000 as the contract stipulates. If you used collateral to purchase the bail bond, such as your car, boat, house, or other asset, you will have to forfeit that collateral.

How to Protect Yourself as a Bail Bond Cosigner

To avoid any liability concerns, be sure you only cosign for people you know closely and who you can trust. Do not cosign for a bail bond if you have not known the person for longer than a year, if they are unemployed, if they have a history of evading the law, if they have a criminal record, and if they are likely to commit further crimes or disobey court orders.

Do you need to surrender to a warrant or get someone out of jail in Central Indiana? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for 24 hour bail bonds in Indianapolis, or anywhere in Central Indiana. We also offer prearranged bail bond service for arrest warrants.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bench Warrants

Posted on August 17, 2022 by admin

Many people worry about their future after being served with bench warrant. But the outcomes that result from bench warrant proceedings are generally milder than those for arrest warrants. Nonetheless, it is important to educate yourself about the facts surrounding bench warrants to ensure that you are staying within the limits of the law, thus protecting your rights and preserving your freedoms.

Continue reading to review some frequently asked questions about bench warrants that might help you achieve this level of understanding.

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Bench Warrant FAQS You Need to Know

What is a Bench Warrant? Is the Same as an Arrest Warrant?

In contrast to arrest warrants, bench warrants are used for minor cases, mostly citations and similar petty infractions such as traffic tickets or j-walking. A bench warrant is issued by the courts when a person misses their trial for a minor case or infraction, also known as an “FTA”, or “failure to appear.” The word “bench” in bench warrant essentially implies the judge’s seat, and requests that you answer to the court for both your original charge and now for your FTA offense.

Do I Have to Respond to a Bench Warrant?

If you do not take care of a bench warrant responsibly and in a way that the state or county expects you to, then you could be faced with an actual arrest warrant, which would force you to surrender to the jail. To respond to a bench warrant, contact the county clerks’ office and notify them that you got the document. From there, they will make arrangements for you to appear in court or see a judge, plus pay the assigned bail.

Do I Need a Bail Bond for a Bench Warrant?

If you cannot afford to pay the bail, you may be able to hire a licensed Indiana bail bondsman to act as a surety. They will cover the full cost, but only charge you a small, nonrefundable fee. Unfortunately, most bail bondsmen will not cover bail payments for bench warrants. If you are arrested for an outstanding bench warrant, you can contact a bail bondsman in Indiana to get you out of jail. This bail bond fee would be separate from your bench warrant bail payments.

Will I Spend Time in Jail for a Bench Warrant?

Probably not, but in the case of negligence, you might. If you do not satisfy your bench warrant obligations, you will eventually have an outstanding bench warrant against you. In this case, police can arrest you on the spot if you have an encounter with them, even if something innocent. For instance, if you are rear-ended by another driver, the responding officer can take you into custody once they run your information and see that you have an outstanding bench warrant.

Do you need to surrender to an arrest warrant or get a friend out of jail? Are you looking for the easiest and fastest way to do that? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for the fastest and friendliest bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Request a free estimate or information, anytime.

Important Bail Bonds FAQS You Need to Know

Posted on August 10, 2022 by admin

Helping someone post bail, or being arrested yourself, is a tedious and dramatic situation that requires legal and financial actions as well as a lot of patience. Once a person is taken in, there are common questions that initially arise about bail bonds and how to get bailed out of jail. Here are some important frequently asked questions about bail bonds and the bail bond process.

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Bail Bond Frequently Asked Questions

How Much is My Bail Going to Cost?

This all depends on the state you are in and the charge you have been arrested on. The typical amount of bail is 10 to 15 percent of the original bond amount. So, if a person’s bond amount is 5,000 dollars, then their bail cost would be $500. That is if the bond is ten percent. If the rate is 15%, then the bond amount would be $750. These percentage rates are mandated by State Law, which is why they may differ from state to state.

How Long Will I Be in Jail Before I Can Post Bail?

The amount of time you spend in your county jail is dependent on numerous variables. If you have previous charges on your record or happen to be awaiting trial on pending charges, the jail time will usually increase. If you are arrested while awaiting trial on other charges, then you may be held until your next court date, and bail will be prohibited, however, this varies case to case.

If you are arrested on alcohol charges, bail will be denied for at least 8-9 hours, depending on your state. A person must be sober to be processed, so if 8 or 9 hours is not enough time, a person can be help longer before bail is allowed. You must be processed to be bailed out, but you must be sober to be processed.

If you are arrested on battery charges or resisting arrest charges, a judge can altogether deny your opportunity for bail, and keep you locked up until your court date. Court dates can be scheduled in as soon as one week, or in other common cases, one month. It can even be longer at times depending on the amount of traffic through the jail.

Can I Call Someone From the Jail for Help?

Yes. Many people are misinformed if they think they only get one phone call in jail. The jail will allow you to make as many calls as you like, so long as you are not tying up the line too long. Also, a pay phone is the only phone available, so collect calls are the only option for inmates. Something to take note on, however, is that some cell phone providers do not accept collect calls. It is recommended, when arrested, to call a local number that can accept collect calls, like a family or friend’s home phone line. If you do not have anyone with a home phone line, a bail bond company can offer help and accepts collect calls from jail anytime.

If you are attempting to bail a friend or loved one out of jail, and your cell phone provider allows collect calls, they may require you to set up an account with a positive balance to accept more than one call from the jail. This means, third party companies or your cell phone provider themselves, will mandate an upfront fee of $20 or $30 in order to accept more incoming collect calls from the jail. This is another situation in which a bail bond company can help with collect calls from jail.

Who Can Bail Me Out of Jail?

If you are arrested, a friend, family member, lawyer, or bail bond company can post bail for you. The limitations state that a person must be 18 years or older and have valid photo identification to bail someone out of jail. A person may decline to post bail for someone, or cosign to bail a person out of jail if they fear the inmate may be a flight risk and skip their court dates. If this were to happen, the cosigner is responsible to appear to all the remaining court dates until they can bring in the defendant and turn them in to the court. They will also be held liable for their remaining bond amount to the bail agency.

Should I Bail Someone Out of Jail?

It is important to be sure you are making a safe decision when posting bail for a person. Ask yourself if they are responsible and if they are likely to show up for their court dates, as well as stay out of trouble in the future. If they are a repeat offender or have a streak of debt and unemployment, it could be irresponsible to cosign a bail agreement for them. In general, if a person can pay 10-15% of the bond amount, and show proper I.D., they can bail you out of jail.

Are you looking for a friendly bail bondsman to help you surrender to a warrant or bail your loved one out of jail in Indiana? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for fast and secure bail bond service in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties.

How to Get Someone Out of Jail on a Shoplifting Charge

Posted on August 4, 2022 by admin

In Indiana, shoplifting is a type of theft that generally takes place at retail stores but can also occur at restaurants and other establishments that sell goods and services. If someone you care about has just been picked up on shoplifting charges in Indiana, there are a few things you need to know if you plan on getting them out of jail yourself.

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Indiana Shoplifting Charges and Penalties

In Indiana, shoplifting is not a separate law in itself. It is charged as theft, which tends to come with some pretty strict penalties. In some cases, defendants are charged with the lesser crime of conversion, which renders lighter penalties. This might happen if a person stuffs goods into their bag but never actually leaves the store with them. If the person leaves the store and is caught, they are charged with theft, which is a felony. Conversions are charged as Class A Misdemeanors.

Jail Time for Shoplifting

After being arrested for shoplifting in Indiana, most defendants are granted bail privileges with 24 hours of their arrest. Later on in the legal process, if the defendant is found guilty at their trial, they will learn if they have to go back to jail at their sentencing. Here are the standard Indiana jail sentences for theft:

↬ Less Than $750 Worth of Goods = Up to 1 Year in County Jail
↬ Between $750 & $50K Worth of Goods = Up to 2.5 Years in Prison
↬ Over $50K Worth of Goods = Up to 6 Years in Prison

Bail Bonds for Shoplifting Arrests in Indiana

Because an initial arrest does not make your friend or loved one automatically guilty, jail time should not be a concern at this point in the process. Their bail should be set soon by the presiding judge, then you can get them released by hiring a local Indianapolis bail bondsman. The bail bonds process is simple, only requiring you to show up to the bail bond office, fill out all paperwork, sign the bail bond agreement, and pay the fee. Bail bond services are non-refundable, so you do not get your money back.

So long as your friend or loved one appears for their court hearing, you are off the hook and released from the bail bond agreement. If they miss their court date, or worse, flee the state, you are responsible for paying back the remaining bond amount. For instance, if their bail is set at $5K and the bail bondsman charges a 10% fee, you pay a non-refundable payment of 500 dollars. But if the defendant does not appear for court, you have to pay back the remaining $4,500 to the bail bond agency.

Are you looking for trusted and friendly bail bond solutions in Indiana? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for 24 hour bail bond services you can trust. We also offer prearranged bail bond service for arrest warrants.