How to Find Out Someone's Bail Amount
Having to bail someone out of jail is an unfortunate situation for anyone to deal with. Your first time dealing with the legal system can be an intimidating process. If you are called upon to help bail someone out of jail, the first thing you will want to know is the amount of the person's bail. Fortunately, the legal system makes finding this information a fairly easy process.
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Instructions
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Making Contact
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Call the county courthouse. The front section of your phone book will have a list of local services and agencies. If you do not have a phone book you can find local court information online. Once you get in touch with the courts, the clerk will ask you a series of general questions about the person you want to bail out and his case. These are basic questions like name, address and date of birth. In some cases the clerk may ask for a case or inmate number. Once you answer these questions the clerk will be able to tell you the person's bail amount.
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Consult with your attorney. If the case requires the use of a lawyer, the courts must advise your attorney of what her client's bail amount will be. When contacting your attorney be prepared to answer general questions like name or date of birth. Once your case is located, the lawyer or staff member be able to tell you the bail amount. You may even get advice on how to post the person's bail.
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Call a bail bondsman. A bail bondsman is a person or service who will post a person's bail on the conditions that the bail amount be paid back to the bondsman after a certain length of time and that the person fulfills all of his court obligations. When you hire a bondsman, he will contact the courts to find the exact bail amount.
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Tips & Warnings
Always have your case information with you when contacting the courthouse. If you do not have any case information, be prepared with the person's name, address and date of birth.
When hiring a bail bondsman, always be aware of the conditions of the loan, such as the amount of time in which it needs to be repaid and what court obligations need to be met after bail has been paid.
Never post a bail amount larger than you can afford. Posting bail is like making a loan to the court. If you default on the bail amount or someone fails to meet her court-assigned obligations, you can be made responsible for the entire bail amount at once. In extreme cases people can lose their homes for defaulting on bail payments.
