The Hudson Law Office
Aggressive Defense of DUI Cases
When Everyone Else is On Your Back, We're On Your Side.
Sarasota, Bradenton and Key West , Florida
A bond is a promise to pay a certain amount of money if you do not show up for your appointed court date. The court might order that you pay $10,000 into the clerk’s office, which you would then forfeit if you don’t show up for all of your court appearances. If you show up for all appearances, then you get the money back at the end of the case. How many people do you know who have $10,000 available for something like that?
A bail bond allows you to pay only a small percentage of the bond amount (typically 10%) to an insurance company. In exchange for that money, the insurance company does two things:
1. It promises to pay the full amount of the bond to the court in the event that you don’t show up for court.
2. It promises to track you down and return you to the court, in exchange for the court giving back some or all of its money.
In short, Bail Bond Agencies allow you to be freed from jail without requiring you to personally post the entire bond amount. Most bondsmen accept cash, credit cards, and checks. Many also provide financing. Often, they will require you to sign over some “collateral,” so that they will get their money back if you skip out on your bond. This collateral might be real estate, a car, a boat or any other asset which you own free and clear.
Remember that putting your house up as collateral is a risky proposition. If the defendant doesn't show up for court, you could lose your house. You must make a decision like this with your eyes wide open, and fully aware of the dangers.
Once he receives the payment, the bondsman will arrange to have you freed from jail. If
you fail to appear for court, a warrant for your arrest will be issued by the court, and
the bondsman will have to pay the entire amount of the bond to the court unless he brings you in.
When you contact the bondsman, he may ask for the following information:
The defendant’s full legal name.
The defendant’s date of birth and social security number.
The agency which is holding the defendant.
The defendant’s charge.
The defendant’s bail amount.
Personal information about the defendant, including employment, prior arrests, family and community ties, education and military service.
No one (not even your lawyer) will know as much as the bondsman about the details of how to obtain
your release. He may have good advice about where your friends can go to
meet you, the best times to post bond, and other details of the process.
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