Surety bonds, commonly known as a bail bonds, are contracts between a state licensed bail agent and the signer or cosigners and guaranteeing that a defendant will appear for scheduled court appearances. In the event of failure to appear, sometimes called a "skip", the signers of the bail bond contract agree to pay the court the full amount of the bond.

If you are considering bailing someone out of jail, it is important that you know how the process works and understand your bail indemnitor responsibilities. we can answer your specific questions or provide more California bail bond information 24 hours a day.

Purpose of the Bail System

The purpose of the bail system is to guarantee the appearance of a criminal defendant in court. The bail system was imported to the U.S. from England in Colonial times and has origins dating back to medieval times. Statistically, the bail system works well and costs taxpayers nothing as bail agents are underwritten privately.

As a licensed bail agent, We are dedicated to providing you with bail bond information including how California bail bonds work, the bail system, cost and the approval process. This is likely a difficult time in your life and Patel Bail Bonds can get you through the process quickly. I hope you will find the following information about California bail bonds helpful.

Bond Approval

In order to approve California bail bonds, information will be collected by the bail agent through an interview. Some bail bondsmen require collateral in order to secure the full amount of the bond. At Tonya Page Bail Bonds, I work with clients to create a bail contract where collateral is not necessary if possible. The process takes just a few minutes.

I understand that the bail process can be confusing and frustrating. There is a lot to understand. We have agents ready to assist you 24x7. If you need more information about California bail bonds, please call 1-800-598-BAIL (2245) or call 1-888-598-5288 for fast, live service.

What to Expect when Bailing Someone Out of Jail

When someone is arrested, the defendant, a friend, or relative will contact a bail bond company. During the free phone consultation, most companies will collect basic information about your situation in order to determine the risk involved in the bail bond and begin the approval process.

The types of questions asked are typically what is the nature of the charges, when were they arrested, how long have you known the defendant, do you and the defendant work, are you home owners, how long have you been with your current employer, etc.

If you choose to purchase a bail bond, basic documents will be processed and need to be signed. These include a bail bond application, Indemnity Agreement, and receipt. With Patel Bail Bonds the paperwork can be processed by e-mail and fax in a few minutes or a licensed agent can meet the client at their location or at the jail.

Completing the Process - Release from Jail

After the paperwork is finalized, a licensed agent will file, or "post", the bond with the jail which will result in the release of the defendant. Again, jail facilities vary in the amount of time to process the bond and release the detainee. From start to finish, this bail agency will generally complete the paperwork and posting process in 1-2 hours. For this service, the customer is charged a bail bond fee (generally 10% of the full bail amount, which is mandated by state law).

If the Defendant is not Bailed Out

If the defendant is not bailed out or otherwise released, she or he will usually remain in custody until arraignment and potentially until the matter has been resolved in court. The benefit of being released on bail is that the defendant will have time obtain qualified legal services and present the case in a complete manner.

Bail Bond Costs

In most states, including California, the cost of bail bonds is set by law and rates are not negotiable. The fee for California bail bonds is 10% of the bail. There are no taxes for a bond. By example, if the bail is set at $20,000, which is average in California, then the fee charged is $2000.

In certain rare cases for high bail amounts, bonds may be eligible for an 8% rate.

I provide several payment options. You may pay using cash or major credit card including Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card. we can also provide easy, no cost financing for qualified customers.

I hope that you have found the bail bond information you were looking for. If you have further questions, please call me at 1-800-598-BAIL (2245) or call 1-888-598-5288 .