What Documentation Do You Need for Bail Bonds

9 May, 18

• in Bail Procedure

are a risky business that only a few people are actively involved in. They require granting massive loans to people being accused of crimes. These bonds are inherently tied up in the legal process.

As a result, it should be no surprise that there is a considerable amount of legal paperwork surrounding the business. Identifying information and the legal mechanics of filing a bond are both critical for understanding how bail bonds work and the basic requirements for the business.

Proof of identity

In order to even apply for a cash bond, an individual needs a certain amount of documentation to prove their identity. This documentation ensures that the bail agent is filing the right bail terms for the right individual. One example of necessary documentation is a passport or a driver’s license. Individuals may also be forced to show certain bank records or credit details for their bail money. This information ensures that they are the credit risk that they present themselves as. Some bail agents require an individual to go through a credit report that shows all of their past debts. These credit reports require a significant amount of identifying documentation.

A bail agent may also request information in their bail terms about an individual’s charges and criminal history. They may want to know the reasons that officers of the court gave for granting an individual either high or low bail amounts California. Such information points to their willingness and ability to jump bail and act as a flight risk. Read About Police Procedure while arresting

Legal filings

Once an individual applies and the bail agent accepts, a number of legal documents need to be filed. First, there needs to be a document acknowledging that the bail agent is transferring bail money and putting up the bond in the company’s name. This document is known as an indemnity agreement and is necessary to hire a bail agent. The agreement stipulates the bond being granted, the individual’s name, and the case number that the bond is being applied to. It also lists the premium paid on the bail bond and a note documenting the ascent of a translator if the individual does not speak English. The part listing the premium paid on the bond is important to protect the wallet of the individual applying for the bond when they hire a bail agent. Bail bond companies are restricted in the amounts that they can charge for a cash bond. This restriction prevents bail companies from completely taking advantage of the individual’s desires to get out of jail as quickly as possible.

This system requires a form because it is transferring bail money only in order to ensure that an individual gets out of jail. The individual does not receive that bond back if they do show up for their court date. This scenario makes the bond different from a simple loan that one individual would give another in order to help them make a bond.

Additional paperwork

Other paperwork also needs to be filed in the bail bonds process in California. An example of this is a disclosure of lean against real property. This disclosure establishes the collateral agreement that an individual may have with a bond agent in order to receive bail money. The collateral is the real property that an individual agrees to put at risk in order to secure the loan. If they circumvent the bail bonds process in California, there is a chance that they will lose their house or another important piece of property.

Conclusion

Bail bonds are a sensitive business. They sometimes require the movement of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars to meet bail amounts in California. They also involve people who may not have established credit histories. As a result, individuals involved in the process need to be aware of the many legal challenges and pitfalls that await anyone who may need a bond in the future or wants to get into the bail bond business.