KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Even if you’ve never had to bail a loved one out of jail with the help of a bail agent, most people are probably familiar with the concept. But what, exactly, is a surety bond, and how is it used?
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When a person decides to undertake bail through a bail bonding company like All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita, they are choosing an alternative to posting a cash bond with the court.
“If the defendant can afford to pay their entire bail amount up front in cash, the full amount is returned to them after their trial is complete and they have appeared at all required court proceedings,” said Inessa Chavez, vice president of All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita. “Most people can’t afford to do this, so they purchase a surety bond instead.”
A surety bond is defined by the Bail Resource Center & Career Academy as a contractual agreement between the indemnitor– the person undertaking the bail –and an admitted insurance company that can adequately satisfy the bond’s face value –the bail bonding company.
Related: Bail Bonds In Santa Clarita: What Happens After A Defendant Is Released From Jail?
Put simply, this means that the bail agent is guaranteeing the court that they will pay the full bail amount in the case that the defendant fails to appear in court, or “skips bail.”
“In the case that a defendant skips bail, the court requires the bail agent to pay the full amount of the bond if they are unable to locate the person after 180 days,” Chavez explained. “However, the agent will seek to recover these costs from the indemnitor afterward according to the conditions of their contract.”
In exchange for posting the bond so the defendant can be released from jail, the indemnitor is charged what’s known as the premium cost of the bond, which is 10 percent of the total bail amount in the state of California.
Related: Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita: Entering Your Plea In Court
“If you can’t afford to pay the premium upfront, we do offer payment plans and rebates to those who qualify,” Chavez said. “We can also use collateral to help lower monthly payments in some cases.”
Collateral, such as the deed to a house or the pink slip to a car, is returned to the indemnitor once the premium has been paid and court appearances are made.
“At All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita, we can help walk you through the bail bonding process and answer any questions you may have,” Chavez said. “We’re available 24-7, so give us a call anytime.”
Article Source: “California 20-Hour Bail/Recovery Pre-Licensing Education, Volume 1” by the Bail Resource Center & Career Academy
Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Feature story based on a recent interview with All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita.
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As far as I am concerned, my “loved one” who lands in jail can just cool their jets there until they are seen by the judge. Years ago I told all of my children that I don’t do bail.