In most states across the US, including Florida, the cost of bail bonds are usually 10%. This means that if someone you know is arrested and their bail is set at $20,000, then the fee you will pay to the bondsman is 10 percent or $2,000. Keep in mind, this is a fee paid to bail out your friend, family member or partner. It is non-refundable, you will not get any portion of that 10% back. Understanding Florida’s Minimum Bond Amount In the state of Florida, if your bail is set at $1,000 or less, your bond amount is automatically $100. For example, if your bail is set at $850, you are technically ..read more

The information provided in this article to help a person who is a convicted felon decide whether they should or shouldn’t bail someone out. There are no laws preventing a felon from doing it. We recommend you consult with your attorney or parole officer before paying someone’s bail. It is legal for a person who was convicted of a felony to bail someone else out of jail. However, it isn’t that straightforward. There are other factors that need to be considered before that ‘yes’ can be a concrete response because you should talk to your parole officer or attorney before putting your own freedom ..read more

Following an arrest, a person accused of a crime is held in jail until the case is heard. However, the federal government, as well as all 50 states, have procedures in place for allowing defendants to leave jail while their trial is pending. This is referred to as pretrial release but most people are more familiar with its common term: bail. Simply put, it means a defendant is released back into the community until their court date. Bail or pretrial release can only be decided by a judge or a court magistrate. What is a Detention Hearing? Right after an arrest, a detention hearing is held to d ..read more

Bail is the legal term for the restrictions that a defendant must comply with while waiting to appear in court. This usually implies a bail bond, which is money or property used to secure a person’s release from pretrial detention. Simply put, bail is the fee a defendant must pay to get out of jail. When is Bail Set? After you or your loved one has been arrested and processed at the jail, arrestees see the judge. It is during this first appearance that bail is set. Typically, this happens within the first 24-48 hours after being taken into custody. It may be longer for those arrested on weeken ..read more

If you have ever been arrested, you may be familiar with the term: SOR Release. It stands for Supervised Own Recognizance and means that the court granted a person release from jail without a cash bond. Instead of paying bail, the accused must comply with requirements set by the judge. Requesting SOR Release Supervised release is often a ‘no cash bail’  option, but that doesn’t automatically make it the best option when you’ve been arrested. Only a judge can grant this type of release so that means you’ll spend extra time sitting in jail waiting on your court hearing. You can avoid the wa ..read more

Bail is money paid to the court to secure the release of someone accused of a crime and arrested. Your bail can be paid by anyone including family, friends or a bondsperson. If a bondsman pays your bail, you now have what is called a bond which is supposed to guarantee your presence in court. Whichever option you choose, you still must attend your scheduled hearing regarding the crime or crimes you were arrested for otherwise an arrest warrant will be issued. Will I Get My Bail Cash Back? That depends on who you paid your money to and what the outcome of your case is. If you paid the court dir ..read more

If you or someone you know has been arrested, having to pay bail is probably a big concern. Some people in this situation may be released from jail on their own recognizance. This means they can be released without paying bond but must sign a written promise to be in court on their scheduled day. Types of No-Cost Bail Once arrested, you may choose to request that you are released from jail on your own recognizance. That means, you’ll be released but you are “on your honor” to abide by any conditions set by the judge and appear in court on the pre-scheduled day. Some states use different wordin ..read more

It’s the weekend and you receive a phone call informing you that your friend or loved one has been arrested. Before you panic, know that many people arrested on weekends may bond out of jail before Monday. Any bail bond agency that is available 24/7 should be able to process your loved one’s release fast. What Happens if You Are Arrested on Friday, Saturday or Sunday? Weekends tend to be prime time for getting arrested. After working all week, more people tend to be out and about on Friday and Saturday. Mistakes are made like drinking and driving, getting into a fight or any number of traffic ..read more

When you’re arrested and facing the possibility of spending time in jail, it can be a financially tricky time on top of everything else. You can expect to pay fees from court to lawyers to personal bills. One of the first costs you’ll experience is bail. If you can’t pay the entire cash amount out of pocket upfront, you can find a bail bond agent and pay a portion of your bail so you can get out of jail while awaiting your hearing. But what happens if you can’t afford the bail bond price? Can a bail agent discount the fees on bail bonds? Surprisingly, the answer is no. Let’s learn more about t ..read more

It can be an emotional and stressful experience when you’re arrested. Not only do you find yourself in unfamiliar and intimidating surroundings, but you’re also dealing with new decisions on top of everything. It is all quite daunting. Although everyone’s situation is different, the basic process is the same. There are some important considerations when deciding whether to handle the risks of staying in jail or bond out to await your hearing. After the arrest, one of the first steps is a bail hearing, where a judge will set your bail if you are eligible. When the judge sets the bail, it’s up t ..read more