If a friend, spouse, or loved one gets into trouble, your first thought is usually how you can help them get out of trouble. It's a noble sentiment, but if their problem involves jail, it is normal to be hesitant. Your friend or loved one needs somebody to bail them out. You can put up the money to bail them out or use a bail bonds company.
You'll have to cosign for a bail bond when choosing the latter. But before doing so, consider these frequently asked questions about cosigning for bail bonds in Orlando.
The defendant might be a friend, family member, or coworker. You might be familiar with the defendant, but how well do you really know them? Remember, you put a lot on the line when you cosign a bail bond, and knowing reliable background details about them is crucial.
Are you sure they will appear for all their court dates? Can you stay in contact with them when they're not in court? If you cannot trust them to follow through with their word, you should not cosign for a bail bond.
Bail bond agencies try to limit their risks by selecting cosigners they believe are good prospects. They review many factors, like proof of employment, residence, and economic capacity.
They'll also examine employment duration when questioning proof of employment. Finally, the bail bonds agency needs to understand your job stability. If you're frequently changing jobs, that can be a problem.
If you cosign a bail bond, you assume accountability for the defendant, meaning you'll guarantee the defendant goes to court when mandated. If not, the bail bond agency will hire a bounty hunter to locate the defendant.
Nevertheless, the bond agency will look to you if the bounty hunter can't locate them. Furthermore, since you consented to cosign, the court will expect you to repay the bond in full if the defendant skips court dates. Remember, when you cosign, you agree to take complete financial responsibility, and the bail bonds agency will come for you to recover their capital. This is why they thoroughly vet people who cosign.
Inform the bail bonds agency if you learn the defendant plans to skip their court date. Your capital or collateral is on the line. If they leave town, you will lose money. Thus, be assertive and reach out to the bail bonds agency to notify the appropriate authorities to apprehend the defendant and take them back to jail.
Also, stay in touch with the defendant and periodically stop by their job or call them to ensure they're still working. Ultimately, you can eradicate any risk by only cosigning for people you know and trust.
You can reject a request to cosign a bail bond for your relatives or buddies. Remember, you take on a lot of responsibility and risk by consenting to cosign. If you choose not to cosign, the defendant can find somebody else to help them or stay in jail.
Alternatively, you can decide to cosign but arrange a few rules to lower your risks. For instance, you can request the defendant to go to therapy sessions or a drug rehab center before cosigning. When doing this, you guarantee they get help for their problems and bypass routine encounters with the police. If the defendant opposes your rules, you can deny their appeal to cosign.
For more details on cosigning, contact our experts on bail bonds in Orlando. We understand your uncertainty and need to know more about bail bonds before signing anything. We're here to help you make an informed decision on how to help your loved one without significant risks.
