FAQS About Acting as a Surety

Posted on August 2, 2017 by admin

Learn the answers to the most frequently asked questions about acting as a surety for someone who has been arrested and taken to jail.

Indiana Bail Bond Company 317-876-9600

Acting as one’s surety is a serious responsibility. If a person fails to appear for their scheduled court hearing, you are responsible for paying the remainder of the bond amount on their behalf. If you do not have the cash to pay off the bond, you would likely have to forfeit assets, such as real estate and vehicles. This means you could lose your home, your vehicles, your savings, and more. Because of the seriousness of becoming one’s surety, it is common for people to have a lot of questions and concerns. Continue reading to review some frequently asked questions and answers about acting as a surety in order to obtain a release from jail for a friend or loved one.

What Does It Mean to Act as One’s Surety?

Signing bail bond paperwork, also known as an agreement or contract, you are becoming one’s surety. This means you will supervise them while they are out on bail to ensure they do not leave town, break any further laws, and appear for their scheduled court hearing. If they do not appear for court, you face financial penalties. A surety must be approved by the court.

As a Person’s Surety, Do I Have to Make a Payment Upfront?

Yes; an upfront payment will need to be made to the bail bond company during the signing of the bail bond contract, which must take place before the process can begin. This fee depends on the set bond amount and the local percentage regulations. Most Indiana bail bond companies are authorized to charge anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of the total bond amount. This fee is nonrefundable and due at the time of signing.

Can I Be a Surety if My Income is Low?

Your income should not make too much of a difference as long as you can prove you are employed full-time and have been employed consistently for a long duration of time. This shows the bail bondsman that you are capable of paying the entire bond amount in the case that the defendant fails to appear for court. Having assets also helps. You can put up collateral, such as real estate, vehicles, stocks, and more.

After I Agree to Act as a Surety, Can I Change My Mind?

Whether the trial is taking too long or you have fallen tired of keeping track of the defendant, you may change your mind and want to rid yourself of the responsibility. Unfortunately, this is not easy. Once you sign the bail bond agreement, you are in a contract. However, you can go to the court and request to “pull” the bail. But this means they will also issue an arrest warrant for your friend or loved one, and they would have to surrender to police, get booked in jail, and post bail all over again. The decision is up to you!

Can I Be a Surety if I Have a Criminal Record?

Usually a minor criminal record will not keep you from being qualified to act as a surety. It depends on the severity of the charges and/or convictions, whether or not you have any pending warrants or charges, and a few other factors.

Indiana Bail Bonds You Can Trust

Woods Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for prompt and professional bail bond services in Indiana. Owner, James Woods, and his team of licensed and insured bail agents, provide 24 hour bail bonds in over 30 Indiana counties. Regardless of time, day, or city, we can get you out of jail fast, and for as low as 8% of your total bond! Request a free estimate, anytime!

The General Types of Bail Bonds

Posted on May 17, 2017 by admin

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Everyone has heard the term, “bail bonds” at some point in their life, but hopefully has never had to experience its very harsh realities. Bail bonds are a complicated situation that requires the guidance of a professional. There are many bail bond agencies in your area that can help you with common questions and needs you may have. For a brief understanding, let’s explore the other types of bonds out there, so that you may always know the distinction among them.

Surety Bonds

A surety bond is more commonly called a bail bond. It is the type of bond used in most states to promise the release of someone in jail. In most cases, the bail agency will charge a standard rate, usually 10% of the full bond amount. If the total bond amount is $10,000, then you pay a non-refundable service fee of $1,000 to get that person released from jail. If the person does not show up for the scheduled court date, the bail agency is required to pay the full bail amount for them, unless they can find the defendant who jumped bail, and return them to the courts. These people are called bounty hunters, and really do exist.

Property Bonds

These types of bonds are used when someone does not have the cash to bail themselves out of jail; so instead, they put up some of their property. This can be a house, car, or anything of value that has the equivalent value of the bond. These bonds are not always available and different from state to state. If the person shows up for their hearing, then the property is released back to them, as if it were just collateral. If the person does not show up for their scheduled hearing, then the courts begin to repossess their property, and often times, auctions it off for money.

Release on Your Own Recognizance

This is usually for first time offenders and very minor charges, like unpaid traffic tickets. This is when the federal law allows a person to be released from jail without bail, under the agreement that they will show up for their scheduled court date, and avoid any more illegal activity.

Citation Release

This is for very minor charges like j-walking. It is a strategy also used by many county jails to avoid over population issues. Instead of being arrested and taken to jail, the police officer will issue you a citation or ticket, obligating you to show up for court. In this situation, a person is free to carry on with their day, but attend a future court date and probably ordered to pay a fine.

Indiana Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for safe and secure Indiana bail bond service you can trust. Owner, James Woods, and his team of licensed bail bondsmen, provide 24 hour bail bond services in over 30 Indiana counties. Regardless of time, day, or city, we can get you out of jail fast, and for as low as 8% of your total bond! Call 317-876-9600 to learn more about Indiana bail bonds, or to request a free estimate, today.

How Does Woods Bail Bonds Get You Out of Jail?

Posted on August 4, 2016 by admin

One of the most common questions a bail bond company hears has to do with the bail bond process. And this is a great question because it is important to understand the methods and responsibilities of everyone involved. A person, whether bailing themselves or a loved one out of jail, has a few options to choose from.

Indianapolis Bail Bondsman 317-876-9600

Federal Bonds

These bonds originate in federal district court and used for defendants accused of federal crimes. Federal bonds are usually more expensive than other crimes, so having a good bail bondsman can make a huge difference and can potentially save you a lot of money. Just be sure to choose a bail bond company that has experience working with federal courts, like Woods Bail Bonds.

Cash Bonds

Defendants also have the option of paying cash for their bond, but this not always a smart move. Surrendering a large amount of money can be hasty since defendants will need cash to survive the legal process. Instead of paying the full bond amount in cash, a defendant can use that money for more important or immediate purposes, such as rent, groceries, daycare, and fuel. Cash bonds cannot be posted by a bail agent. Cash bonds
are returned after court costs and fees are deducted.

Surety Bonds

The alternative to posting a bond in cash is to use a surety bond, which is also known as a bail bond. This process involves a contractual undertaking, guaranteed by an admitted insurance company that retains adequate assets to satisfy the face value of a person’s bond (also known as a bail bond agency).

What We Do

Woods Bail Bonds guarantees to the court that they will pay the bond forfeiture if a defendant fails to appear for the designated court appearances. Woods Bail Bonds guarantee is made through a surety company such as the Universal Fire & Casualty Insurance Company. For this service, a defendant is charged a premium. To be released by posting a bail bond, the defendant (or a relative or a friend on their behalf) will contact an agency licensed by the State of Indiana to post bail bonds. Before a bond is posted, we will interview the proposed guarantor of the bail bond, as well as the defendant and relatives of the defendant, as part of the approval procedure for the bond.

By involving family and friends, as well through the acceptance of collateral, Woods Bail Bonds can be assured the defendant being released on a bail bond will appear at a defendant’s designated court date, as required, until the case is completed. Once an agreement is made, we will complete the application and post the bail bond for the full amount of the bail to guarantee the defendant’s return to court.

After You are Released

Once a defendant is released on a bail bond posted by Woods Bail Bonds, they will meet with an agent to be interviewed and learn the terms and conditions of their bail. At Woods Bail Bonds, we strive to make this process as simple and comfortable as possible. All we ask is for defendants to communicate and be courteous. We offer the comfort of not being in jail while your case is adjudicated.

24 Hour Bail Bonds in Indiana

Woods Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for 24 bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner, James Woods, and his team of licensed bail bondsmen, work around the clock, to help get you or a loved one out of jail fast. We offer free jail information, jail pickup and drop off services, inmate searches, arrest warrant help, prearranged bail, and much more, Call us anytime at 317-876-9600 to speak with a friendly and knowledgeable Indianapolis bail bondsman for help.

Are All Bail Bonds the Same?

Posted on August 12, 2015 by admin

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

For anyone who wishes to get a friend or loved one out of jail following an arrest, a bail bond is the common “go-to” amenity used to achieve this safely and efficiently. Although bail bonds are well-known and commonly used to get people out of jail, many people may be unaware that there is more than just one kind of bail bond offered at a bail agency. Continue reading to learn some thought-provoking facts regarding the different types of bonds and how they are used in the bail industry.

Surety Bonds

A surety bond is the most common type of bail bond used to obtain a release from jail in the United States. It is more commonly referred to as a bail bond. The standard bail bond method involves hiring a licensed bail bondsman to enable a persons’ release from jail. Bail bondsmen are the more popular choice for anyone looking to bail a person out of jail because of the ease and affordability. Most people could never afford the pay the entire bond amount to the courts to get out of jail. A bail agency will only charge 10-15% of the bond amount (which is usually in the mid-high thousands) for their services. They parties involved with the bail process will be required to sign agreements, contracts, and other documents guaranteeing they will show up for their scheduled court hearing and not skip bond. If they do not appear for court, a warrant will be issued for their arrest, and the co-signer of the bond will be accountable to pay the remainder bond amount to the courts, or face legal penalties.

Cash Bonds

A cash bond is an unlikely choice for many U.S. citizens who are arrested and detained on minor charges. The reason for this is that a cash bond requires a person to pay the courts the full bond amount, usually between $2,000 and $10,000, but upwards of $20,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on the charges and criminal history of the defendant. In many cases, people do not have this type of cash on hand, and if they did, could not afford to hand it over to the courts until their court date. Although it is expensive to use a cash bond, it is refundable so long as the person follows the courts rules and appears for all scheduled hearings.

Property Bonds

A property bond is typically used in major criminal cases that involve serious charges and high bond amounts. If a person is arrested on such charges, in order to obtain a release from jail, rather than wait in a jail cell for weeks until their court date, they can use a property bond. To use a property bond, a person must forgo their most expensive assets (i.e. houses, property, vehicles, stocks, etc.) to the court in exchange for their release from jail. After they show for their court dates and follow all instructions handed down by the judge, they will receive their properties back in their name.

There are several other types of bail bonds used in the industry as well. Stay tuned for next weeks blog to dive into some more bail bond definitions! In the mean time, call a licensed Indianapolis bail bonds for all your questions about bail, bonds, and more!

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 to get a friend or loved one out of jail in Indianapolis. Owner and licensed bail bondsman, James Woods, can offer safe and secure releases from any Indiana county jails. We offer bail bond services for misdemeanor arrests, felony arrests, DUI’s, OWI’s, probation violations, arrest warrants, and much more. Call 317-876-9600 to learn how to get out of jail in Indianapolis or its surrounding counties.

Common Forms of Bail Bonds

Posted on June 28, 2013 by admin

Bail bonds are a wonderful commodity and service to have on your side in a time of need. Many people may think they have a general understanding of what a bail bond does; but many are also unaware that bail bonds come in several forms. Continue reading to learn about the common types of bail bonds in the industry and their various purposes.

Indianapolis Bail Bondsman 317-876-9600

Surety Bonds

Most people are unaware that the term “surety bond” is just the formal name for a bail bond. These are the general types of bail bonds to get a release from incarceration. They are purchased through a bail bondsman or bail bond agency for a percentage of the original bail amount. For example, if a person is arrested for Battery, and their bail is set at $5,000, they would have to pay a bail agency 10-15% of the $5,000 to get out of jail and await their next trial date.

Property Bonds

For those who are arrested under more serious charges other than simple misdemeanors, may be subjected to use a property bond to gain a release from jail. If they do not get bailed from jail, they will have to wait in jail until their next scheduled court date and this could be months later. A property bond is used in cases where people cannot afford to pay the bail amount to get released because they are so high. In these cases, arrestees have the choice to place their properties up in place of cash. Things such as cars, houses, boats, motorcycles, and land can be used legally in place of cash to get bailed out of jail. If the arrested does not show up for all their scheduled court hearings and fails to complete their obligations to the court, they sacrifice the property they put up for bail. Property bonds are a very serious form of bail bonds.

Release on Your Own Recognizance Bonds

This type of bond is more of a verbal bond and does not require payment of any kind. These types of releases from jail are for first time offenders with very minor charges, like j-walking or unpaid parking tickets. In these cases, the jail will release a person without a bail bond on a promise that they will show up for all their court dates and complete the legal process they are obligated to in order to avoid future legal issues.

Indianapolis Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

For more information about bail bonds in Indianapolis, Indiana, call 317-876-9600 today. Woods Bail Bonds provides fast and friendly bail services for Hoosiers all over the state. From arrest warrants to jail pickup services, our courteous bail agents are here to help. James Woods and his team of agents offer the most professional and expedited bail bond services around. Call 317-876-9600 and talk to a bail bond agent about help getting out of jail in Indianapolis, IN.