How to Bail Out Someone With a Property Bond
There are a variety of methods used to bail out someone from jail. These include using the services of a bail bondsman or posting the full amount of the bond with the clerk of the court. In using a bail bondsman to get someone out of jail, you typically pay between 10 and 15 percent of the total amount of the bond to the bondsman. A bail bond operates like insurance. The amount you pay to the bondsman is not returned to you. You also can post the full amount of the bond with the court itself, through the clerk's office. The bond is returned to you provided the defendant meets all requirements of the proceedings. The bond can be in the form of cash or certain types of property.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine the amount of bond that needs to be posted to win the release of your friend or loved one. The "booking department" of the county or city jail will have bond amount information.
-
2
Use an automobile as collateral for a property bond provided the amount of that bond is below the "Blue Book" value of the vehicle. An automobile is useful as collateral for more moderate bonds.
-
-
3
Bring the automobile title to the clerk of the court where the criminal case is pending. (In some jurisdictions, property bonds also are processed through the jail. Telephone either the jail or the clerk's office to ascertain where and when you can put up a property bond on behalf of a jailed individual.)
-
4
Sign the documents provided to you to accept the placement of a lien on your automobile title. The actual title itself is kept by the clerk of the court until the case is completed and the bond requirement released by the court.
-
5
Use real estate as a property bond if the amount to bail someone out is higher. You must have enough equity in the property to cover the amount of the bond. Bring proof of your ownership of the real estate (copy of the deed) with you to the clerk of the court or to the jail as directed.
-
6
Sign the real estate lien documents provided to you at the clerk's office or jail. Once the lien documents are executed, they are filed with the register of deeds in the county in which the real estate is located. The lien on your real estate will be released only when the person bailed out satisfies all court appearances in the case.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that if the defendant fails to appear in court, the judge can revoke the bond. If the bond is revoked, you run the risk of having your property sold to satisfy the amount due and owing to the court.
