When you’re charged with a crime, bail is set to help guarantee that you’ll show up to all your court appearances. If you can’t put up the money yourself, you can enlist the services of a bail bonds agent in Angleton.
One of our most frequently asked question concerns what happens to your money after you post bail. To answer this, you need to understand a little more about the bail bonds process.
How bail works
When a judge sets bail, it is usually according to a state or county “schedule,” which lists what amounts of bail are appropriate for certain crimes. Depending on the circumstances, bail might be set higher or lower, or the defendant might be released on their own recognizance. Factors include whether you have a criminal history, your ties to the community, the severity of the crime and whether you’re a danger to the community.
Bail is meant to guarantee that you will come to court until the conclusion of your case. The idea is that if the court can hold on to a significant amount of money, you will need to show up—most people can’t afford to lose thousands of dollars.
If your bail is set at $10,000, but you can’t afford to put up that much, you can ask a bail bonds agent for help. You put up a percentage of the total amount of bail, and they offer the rest. If you renege on your court obligations, they can come after you for the total amount; if you cooperate with all of the proceedings, you’ll only be out the percentage you paid for their service.
Where does the money go?
The answer to this question is twofold, depending on whether you have a bail bonds agent. If you’re putting up the entirety of your own bail, the court will hold on to the amount until the conclusion of your case, no matter what the verdict. Then it is returned to you (or the person who paid on your behalf)—but only if you appear at all of your court dates. If you miss even one, you may forfeit the right to the posted bail. (That’s why it’s important to be very careful about posting bail on anyone’s behalf.)
If you work with a bail bonds agent, they will put up the majority of the bail. This is paid to the court and is held until the conclusion of your case. The bail bonds company will still charge you a percentage of the total bail amount as a fee for their services—and also to ensure that they still get paid even if you don’t show up to court. If you fail to appear and the bail is forfeited, you will be legally liable for paying them the full amount. If you appear as required, the bail money is given back to the bail bonds company and you are free to go about your regular life once more.
To work with a bail bonds agent in Angleton, TX, get in touch with Brazoria County Bail Bonds today.