You find yourself in a jail cell and now you have to figure out how to post bail. Luckily, one of the more convenient options available is to obtain a surety bond from a bail bonding company like All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita.

Some people may choose to go with a bail agent for a surety bond because they are available 24/7 and can explain the process, as well as post the bond. In addition, going through a bail bonding company often allows the defendant to be released from jail within a few hours.

The process for arranging a surety bond with a bail agent is relatively simple — all that is needed is the defendant’s full name, jail location, booking number and charges.

In the state of California, bail agents charge 10 percent of the total bail amount, known as the premium cost of the bond. In some cases, collateral may also be required.

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“Most people don’t have the money to post a cash bond with the court, so a surety bond is often the best option,” said Inessa Chavez, vice president of All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita. “You would only need to pay the bail agent 10 percent of the bail amount instead of the full cost.”

Once the premium has been paid or payment options have been arranged, the bail agent will post the bond at the jail, which can take several hours, depending on how busy the jail is.

The defendant must be present for all court proceedings — including their judgment day — and must meet any conditions set by the bail agent in order to fulfill their bail contract without any infractions.

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If the defendant fails to appear in court, the court will forfeit the bail and a warrant will be issued for their arrest.

“It is in the bail agent’s best interest to find the defendant and return them to custody when a client skips bail,” Chavez said. “If the defendant cannot be found within six months, the bail agent will be responsible for the full amount of the bond.”

Chavez continued, “At All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita, we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions you may have and explain the bail bonding process. Just give us a call.”