3 Ways To Save Money When Posting A Loved One's Bail
Discovering that a loved one has been arrested can be troubling. The last thing you want is for your loved one to spend more time than necessary behind bars. Fortunately, most people who have been arrested are able to await their court date in relative freedom after posting bail. Here are three ways that you can help your loved one by posting their bail, but still save yourself some money in the long run.
1. Talk to a Defense Attorney
Your loved one will probably need the help of an experienced defense attorney when it comes to presenting their case in court. You can jump-start the defense process by contacting a defense attorney as soon as you discover that a loved one is behind bars.
The attorney will be able to collect valuable information regarding your loved one's charges, then request a hearing with the judge to petition for a lower bail amount.
The lower the bail that is set for your loved one, the less you will have to pay a bail bondsman to secure your loved one's release.
2. Wait Until Regular Business Hours
Bail bondsmen understand that an arrest can happen at any time. This is why most bail bondsmen offer round-the-clock services to help those in need.
While you can easily find a bail bondsman who is willing to help you post a loved one's bail during the middle of the night, it may be financially beneficial for you to wait a few hours before you seek help.
Any services that are performed by a bail bondsman outside of regular business hours could be subject to additional charges. By simply waiting until the next day to bail your loved one out of jail, you can avoid these charges and minimize the amount of money you pay a bail bondsman for his or her help.
3. Shop Around to Find a Bail Bondsman
The maximum amount that bail bondsmen can charge their customers is regulated by the law. While this means that you will never pay over a set amount for bail, there is a lot of variation within the fee schedules used by local bail bondsmen.
Call around to several different bail bond companies to identify the bondsman with the lowest fees.
Choosing to partner with a more affordable bail bond company will help you minimize your out-of-pocket costs when bailing a loved one out of jail.
Contact a local bail bonds company to learn more.