Do you know what the difference is between bail and a bond? A lot of people don’t. Most people think that bails and bonds are the same because they are always being talked about or written about together… so, “aren’t the terms interchangeable?”
While bails and bonds are very much related, they are definitely not the same thing. These two legal terms are both used commonly when someone is first put under arrest and taken into custody, but they refer to two different parts of the legal process.
- Bail
When someone is arrested, they are immediately taken into custody. Typically, they are taken to the local county jail where they can be processed and law enforcement can get all of the necessary documentation in order. After this, the defendant must stay in jail until their court hearing. The judge then sets an amount of money that the defendant can pay to be released until their court hearing. This amount of money is bail. If the defendant shows up to all of their mandatory court hearings, then the money they paid for bail will be returned to them.
- Bonds
Unfortunately, bail can sometimes be set pretty high, especially if the judge has any doubts about the defendant showing up to their hearings. Since amounts can often be too expensive, defendants or their loved ones often must get in contact with a bail bondsman. The bail bondsman can provide a bond, which is essentially a loan, paid directly to the court for the bail amount. In exchange for this bond, the defendant must pay the bondsman 10% of the bail amount. The bail bondsman gets to keep this 10%, even if the defendant shows up to all proceedings.
Bonds can be used to pay bail. If you find yourself in need of a bond to pay off the bail for you or a loved one, then you’ll want the expert services of Bail Hotline Bail Bonds. We can help you 24 hours a day – 7 days a week – 365 days a year. We’re always available to provide bonds because we know that the law doesn’t just work from 9 to 5. Send us your information to get contacted by one of our helpful operators right away. (888) 438-2245
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