Bail Bonds FAQs

Bail Bonds FAQ

What is a Bail Bond?

A bail bond is a money guarantee a person who has been charged with a crime will appear in court when they are ordered to do so. Once a bond has been posted by us, your family member or friend is released from custody until the court hearing. They must show up for court.

How is the Amount of Bail Decided?

The judge is responsible for setting the bail amount and most people want to be released immediately as opposed to waiting up to three days to see a judge. In most jails, bail is set according to previously set guidelines that specify bail amounts.

How is Bail Posted?

You can post cash or real property for the full amount of the bond directly with the court, but this may tie up much-needed funds and savings and take a long time. You’ll also lose the benefit of confidentiality since most courts follow stringent guidelines to show posted funds aren’t a product of criminal activity. In most cases, bail is posted through a bail bondsman. That’s us! We post bond for you. In St. Lucie County, we can physically post bail bonds if needed but we can call in the bail in most cases to offer the fastest release times. We charge a state required fee that is set by the State of Florida. We cannot charge you more or less that this 10% fee. For example, if bail is $1,500, you pay 10% which is $150. 

What’s Collateral?

Collateral is something of value that’s “held” by the bail agent to ensure the defendant is shows up for all court proceedings. A piece of real estate, a car, a bank account – all can be considered collateral. Sometimes the signature of a qualifying co-signor is all that is needed and will be accepted by us. Often all we need is your signature.

Will the Collateral be Returned?

A bail bond agent has a legal responsibility to safeguard all collateral. As long as the defendant has not failed to appear before the court, collateral is returned once a case is completed – whether the defendant is found innocent or guilty. A bail agent’s fee, however, is not returned; this is payment for services rendered regardless of the outcome of the case.

What Information Do I Need to Provide the Bail Bond Agent?

Simply provide us the full name of the defendant and what jail he’s in – you’ll need the city, state, and name of the jail. If you can provide the booking number, this can save valuable time.

How much is the bail?

The Judge decides this, but If you don’t know the amount of bail, don’t worry, we can get the amount for you. Once we know the bail amount, we will advise you what it cost to post bond and anything else required to expedite your loved one’s release.

How long does it take to get released from jail on bond?

That usually depends on where the defendant is being held. Local police stations generally take an hour, but county jails, like St. Lucie County Jail, can range from three – eight hours depending on how busy the jail is. Immigration may take up to six hours, and federal facilities two – three. Because we use “Instant Bail”, we can often offer the fastest release times.

What happens if the defendant fails to appear?

If you think the defendant is going to flee, contact us as soon as possible to review what options are available to you. If a defendant fails to appear before the court, he is considered a fugitive and a bench warrant is issued for their arrest. We make every effort to locate the fugitive and return them to custody. However, if we are unable to locate the fugitive we must pay the entire bond amount to the court. We then can recover the cost by turning to the collateral to reimburse the loss.

Call 772-247-1109 Open 24 hours a day.