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Legal Trouble – What Happens if You’re Unable to Post Bail

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Out of every 100,000 Americans, about 3,251 will experience an arrest.

What happens if you’re in trouble, and can’t post bail?

It’s a question that many people have asked themselves when they are arrested and need to get out of jail. It’s not an easy decision, but it’s something that needs to be made quickly so that the accused person can go back home and get on with their life. In this article, we will cover what happens if you can’t post bail and how much money you might lose while in jail as well as what your options are for getting out of jail without posting bail. So take a look! By the time you’re done reading, you’ll know what to do about not having bail money.

What Happens if You Can’t Post Bail?

If you are arrested and can’t afford to post bail, there is a chance that you may be sitting in jail for an indefinite period. There are many reasons why this might happen- maybe the accused simply doesn’t have any money. It could also be because they didn’t have bail set yet. Some people will be released without bail, but the majority of criminal defendants must post a certain amount of money as collateral to leave jail. This is known as posting bail or bond.

If an accused person can’t afford this fee, they’ll stay in custody until their trial or release date arrives. In many cases, it’s not a situation that can be avoided without the financial means necessary. However, there are instances in which a loved one or friend can pay the bail amount on behalf of an accused.

Domestic Violence Trouble

Why post bail instead of waiting it out?

If someone has been charged with domestic violence and there is evidence that they were involved in any physical altercations, it can mean big trouble. The defendant may want to consider posting their bond as soon as possible so that they aren’t at risk of being released from jail before their trial date arrives. It’s important not only because you’re looking out for your future but also because defendants have rights too – including the right to present a defense against accusations made by prosecutors.

Medical Condition

What’s another situation where you should reach out to a family or friend for bail money, instead of waiting for trial? You have a medical condition that requires costly treatment (that you can’t afford) and bail is set too high. If your case goes to trial, it will take months for the court process to complete – but if you’re released on bond during this time, at least one of these two things may happen.

First, the prosecution will decide not to pursue charges against you or the judge might reduce your sentence because he’s seen how hard you’ve been working in your community while awaiting trial. Neither result would be possible if all they knew was what happened in an hour-long hearing. Just like with any other agreement between people, there are always terms and conditions attached which help define when someone needs their loved ones’ assistance.

Family Members Need You

Having a medical condition is just one reason to push forward with the bail process. You should also avoid sitting and jail if you have family members who need support. For instance, do you have young children at home? If you don’t post bail, the separation from your family could be a lot longer than you’d expect.

Sadly, nearly 2 million kids have to deal with a parent being behind bars, every year.

If you have children, it’s important to post bail and avoid sitting in jail if possible because your kids will need you at home while they’re growing up. Don’t wait until you get out of prison before spending quality time with the family again! You should also think about how much money is available on the outside versus what can be accessed inside.

If there are enough funds, do not wait. If you wait, it will cost money down the line. You might run out of money and then you won’t have any left. Friends and family will depend on each other more when they run out of their own money.

Loss of Income

Will waiting to post bail cause you to lose money? When a loss of income is at risk, you should post bail. If a trial is likely, it could take weeks or months before getting a verdict, which can be important for your finances in terms of missed work opportunities. If you have an attorney they will tell you about what that means for your case and how it may affect your defense strategy if you don’t show up as required.

If there’s strong evidence against you and waiting on trial would mean extensive jail time. Not posting a bond may make sense if you absolutely can’t afford it (though this situation should always be discussed with counsel).

What if Friends and Family Won’t Help?

So far, we’ve been talking about situations where you should call on friends and family members to help you get out of trouble. However, what if you asked your family for a bailout, and they couldn’t help?

If you can’t get bail funds from someone you know, it’s time to reach out to lenders. Lenders are pretty much the last resort when it comes to getting out of jail. They’re not always a good option, but just like any other resource, they can be very helpful if you know how to use them properly. There’s no one size fits all method; every case is different and will require different measures of help.

You may need bail bonds with collateral or even something as simple as community service hours to get your freedom back from behind bars. Lenders aren’t cheap either–you’ll have to pay a certain amount for their services upfront. It might seem worth paying the price if that means you won’t spend years in prison awaiting trial on trumped-up charges because you couldn’t post bond money upfront to regain your freedom.

How Do You Get a Bail Loan?

Let’s say you’ve decided to reach out to a 3rd party lender to help post your bail. Now what?

Next, you’ll need to find a lender who is willing to work with you. This borrower has had good credit for many years and just needs help once because of their unfortunate situation. Finding the right bail money provider can be tough!

Ask your friends or family if they know someone that might have connections in this industry so you can get back on your feet sooner rather than later. Don’t forget about Google search- there are all types of companies available online that could give you access to a cash loan quickly without too much paperwork involved. You want something fast, easy, and hassle-free which will allow you to focus on what’s important: getting out of jail as soon as possible!

Read Bail Bond Agency Reviews

Before choosing a lender to help you post bail, double-check their reputation online. You can see if they are licensed and rated, as well as the number of reviews. If you’re still not sure which company to choose, ask for referrals from your friends or family who have recently posted bail. Or call a local courthouse to find out where their system is located and what prisons it works with.

Having trouble getting access to the internet to research and contact lenders? Call a trusted friend who can help you search for potential lenders online. After finding bail bond agencies that are licensed and bonded, like Bail2go.com, you’ll want to dig a little deeper. Bail bond agents must be part of a surety company, which makes them liable for any mistakes made on the bail bond application or in transferring funds to pay an offender’s bail amount. The length of time the agency has been open and its experience with issuing bail bonds.

A good indicator is how long it takes the agent to issue a quote. If they take more than two days then they’re not as quick as other agencies who can do so within 24 hours. Check their ratings online at sites like Yelp! They should have reviews from multiple customers, and the reviews should span a long period. Be wary of groups of reviews all made at the same time since this could be a bot in action.

How to Qualify for Financing

Let’s say you’ve found a reputable agency to help you post bail. What’s next? Now you’ll need to apply for the loan, and wait for the approval. Before you do that, find out if there are other hurdles to clear.

Keep in mind you’ll need key pieces of information when applying for a bail bond loan. Be prepared to provide your Social Security number and driver’s license info. If you lost your Social Security Card, you can start an application online to have it replaced. Next, provide the name and address of the person who posted bail for you (the guarantor) as well as their phone number If all goes well, once approved, the bondsmen will electronically transfer the funds into your account either immediately or by the next day. The lender will give you money to buy a car. But you have to pay them back with interest within 60 days or they can take your car away.

Schedule a Hearing

You’ll need to work with your bail bonds agency and the court system to get a hearing scheduled. When you want to schedule a time for an inspection, do it as soon as possible. That way you can make sure that nothing happens on the inspector’s side and they are able to return at the earliest date.

The best way is by calling them on their direct line, which should always be posted somewhere on their website. If that doesn’t work out, call a few different agencies until one takes your phone call and provides assistance in getting your case heard before a judge.

What to Say

What should you say to the bail bonds agency once you get them on the phone?

If you’re not sure what to do, the first thing is to go ahead and ask. The bail bondsman will walk you through the basic process for getting a loan approved.

The key message that you should always remember when calling a bail bond agency is to have money or collateral. No matter what, you need money to post your bail! Without it, the individual who needs help won’t be able to get out of jail until they can provide collateral themselves or find someone else with enough cash on hand.

Acceptable Forms of Collateral

Strapped for cash?

The bail bondsman will ask you what type of collateral you have available and then let you know whether or not the agency accepts it.

Some types of acceptable collateral are car title, gold jewelry, stocks & mutual funds (must be worth more than $50K), deeds to property (the equity must exceed $20k).

A list of examples would include: savings account in a bank, mortgage loan on your home with an LTV ratio less than 80%, credit card balance is under 50% of the limit for three current accounts. These forms may vary depending on where you’re located so double-check before providing any information.

What if You Can’t Provide Collateral?

If you can’t provide collateral, then he’ll ask you to post a bond. The bail bondsman will take your word for how much the collateral value is. They will also request you deposit any money you’re using with them during the term of the agreement.

What Choice Is Right for You?

Remember, waiting it out in a jail cell can create more trouble for yourself. If you’re arrested, your freedom could be at stake and that can have a significant impact on your life for months or even years! The decision is yours but it may be worth thinking about how staying incarcerated might affect your job, relationships with family members, and more before making a final call.

Start looking for bail bonds agencies you can work with today! Once you find a reputable agency, reach out to them right away. Let them know your situation, and find out what the next best step is for you to take. Are you ready to help yourself out even more? For more tips, read another guide.

 

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