If you have been asked to sign for a bail bond for a family member or friend, you may be curious what exactly this entails. The details of the agreement should be listed, but it can be a little overwhelming. Regardless, when you have a legal document in front of you that you need to sign, you need to know what is expected from you before you ever sign your name on the dotted line. Here are a few things that you should know before you sign for a bail bond for another individual.
Court Date Appearances
When a bail bond document is signed, you become the indemnitor. This means that you have a legal obligation to make certain that your family member or friend appears in court as scheduled. In the event that the defendant misses the scheduled court date, you will be held responsible for any incurred fees. In some instances, the bail bond company may hire a recovery agent to make sure that these funds are fulfilled.
Payments
If the defendant does not show up to court as scheduled or ends up disappearing (such as fleeing from the county), you become legally responsible for the bail amount that was stipulated by the court. It is not uncommon for bail bond agreements to use collateral as opposed to actual money for the bail to be secured. If this is the case in your situation, then the bail bond service will confiscate the collateral used, regardless of whether this is a vehicle, piece of real estate property, or something else entirely.
Defendant Responsibility
In every possible way, the indemnitor will take responsibility of the defendant. You will be liable for making sure that the defendant makes it to court as scheduled and that he or she meets any and all terms and conditions of his or her release. If the defendant fails to do so, you will face financial consequences on top of the defendant facing his or her own repercussions. Once the bail bond agreement has been signed, you cannot simply change your mind. Therefore, make absolute certain that you are ready to agree to the conditions of the arrangement.
It makes sense that you want to help a loved one who is in trouble, but it is important that you understand each element of the bail bond agreement. If you have questions regarding the bail bond agreement, ask them before you sign. For more information, talk to a bail bonds company in your area.
Share27 January 2020
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