Finances And Bail Bondsmen Services: What You Need To Consider Before Co-Signing For A Bail Bond


If your loved one calls you and tells you that they have been arrested, you may get to work trying to bail them out of jail. Many bail bondsmen services require an individual to have a co-signer, or someone to vouch that they will not flee while they are out on bail. While you may be trying to help out a loved one, it is important that you fully understand the financial impact of bail bonds. Here is some financial information that you need to know prior to co-signing for a bail bond. 

What it Means to Co-Sign For a Bail Bond

When you co-sign for a bail bond, you are agreeing to pay for your loved one's bail if they flee. It is important to note that when you post bail for someone with a bondsman, that bondsmen only charge ten percent to post bail. For example, if bail is set at $10,000, you will pay $1,000 to bail them out of jail. If they run while out on bail, you are responsible for the full bail amount, or $10,000. Many people think they are responsible only for the amount they have already paid, which is not correct.  

How a Bail Bond Can Impact Your Credit

If a bail bondsman has agreed to take payments for the initial bond amount, or if your loved one flees, you can be held financially responsible for both obligations. A bail bonds company is allowed to use debt collection techniques to get their money back and they can report the debt to credit reporting agencies, which can impact your credit report. 

How a Bail Bond Can Impact Your Finances

Lastly, it is important to understand that in an effort to recover any money that they are owed, a bail bondsmen service can seek a judgment against you for the amount they are owed. A judgment may allow them to garnish your wages or to seize bank accounts and assets. In addition to this, judgment are typically not allowed to be discharged in bankruptcy, so you will be stuck paying the debt. 

Co-signing for a bail bond with bondsmen services can financially leave you with quite a bit of exposure if the individual flees while out on bail. As such, you should only co-sign bail bonds for people who you fully trust and who you know you will be able to locate if they miss a court hearing. If your loved one has been arrested, contact a bail bondsmen service to learn more about bailing your loved one out of jail as quickly as possible. 

About Me

Learning About The Importance of Financing

Hello, my name is Bernard Willis. Welcome. I am excited to help everyone understand the importance of loan and financing availability in every market. When it came time to acquire housing, I was stuck between renting and purchasing my first home. I decided to forge ahead with the loan application process to acquire financing for my home purchase. Unfortunately, I found the process confusing and frustrating at first. Through the weeks, I dedicated my time to learning all I could about all types of financing. I created this site to share that knowledge with all my valued readers. Visit anytime to learn more.

Search

Categories

Latest Posts

3 September 2024
Understanding mortgages is crucial for anyone looking to buy a home. Mortgages can seem complex, but a bit of knowledge can go a long way in making in

13 May 2024
Are you in need of financial assistance but struggling with a less-than-perfect credit score? Bad credit loans may be the sol

13 February 2024
Criminal bail money is not something most people think about until they or someone they know has been arrested. In simple terms, bail is an amount of