Bail Bonds Near Me: How to Find a Local Bail Bondsman
Bail Bonds Near Me: How to Find a Local Bail Bondsman
If you are unfamiliar with the intricacies of court, you may be wondering, how can I find bail bonds near me? Or, even more generally, what is bail, and how does a bail bond differ from bail?
Bail is the set amount of money that serves as the “insurance” between the court and the defendant (the person in jail). This amount is set during the bail hearing, where the judge assesses the case details and determines a suitable bail amount. The defendant has the option to pay this amount in cash instead of staying in jail until their court date. Unfortunately, bail is typically set very high, and most people cannot afford to pay it entirely in cash.
This is where a bail bond comes into the picture.
What Is a Bail Bond?
Put simply, a bail bond is a type of surety bond, which is essentially a contract between three parties: the defendant, the judge, and the party taking responsibility for the bail amount. Bail bonds are typically provided by a bail bond or surety bond company through a bail bondsman or agent responsible for ensuring the defendant's release from jail.
This system is not widespread worldwide; it exists only in the United States and the Philippines and is not practiced in Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC. These states require that the defendant lodge a 10% deposit on the total bail amount with the court. Therefore you can find your local bail bondsman in the United States.
How Much Do Bail Bonds Cost?
The bail bond company you select will charge a fee, sometimes called a premium, to use their services. This fee will depend on the company and the state legislation regarding how much bail bondsmen can charge. For example, Colorado has a 15% maximum, but Kansas has no bail bond maximum.
In Indiana, the maximum premium a bail bondsman can charge is 10% of the total bail amount.
Do Bail Bond Companies Offer 24-Hour Bail Bonding?
Generally speaking, yes, bail bond companies offer 24/7 services. Since arrests can happen at any time and judges can post bail at any hour, it is critical that bail bond companies operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
While not all bail bond companies may operate at all times, a good and reliable company will be open when needed — no matter the time or day. This is why Smith American Bail Bonds offer 24/7 online and phone bail bonding services to Indianapolis and the state of Indiana.
Finding the Best Local Bail Bondsman
More often than not, if you are looking for a bail bondsman near you, it is because you need help posting bail for yourself or a loved one.
This means you’ll likely not spend the extra time carefully reviewing your options, comparing rates, and talking with individual bail bondsmen. You want a fairly priced and reliable solution that allows you to post bail quickly so you or your loved one does not have to spend time in jail.
Luckily, if you live in Indianapolis or elsewhere in Indiana, Smith American Bail Bonds has you covered. We are the top Google-rated bail bonding service in Indiana, with over 175 five-star reviews and an overall 5-star rating. So, if you need help securing a bail bond today, visit Smith American Bail Bonds to get an 8% surety bail bond from the number one bail bond agency in the state!