Many people find themselves in the unexpected situation of assisting a friend, family member, or loved one who has been detained. With all of the worry that surrounds the bail process, many people do not take the time to fully understand their duties while signing for a bail bond.
Bail bonds or surety bonds are used to get a criminal released from jail. Similar to an insurance policy, the bail bond is submitted to the jail, and the ‘promise to make good’ on that bond is invoked. That indicates the defendant will appear in court, as promised.
But the process comes with concerns like:
· If I bail someone out of jail, am I responsible for them
· What happens if you bond someone out of jail and they run
This post serves as an answer to all such concerns that come with bailing someone from jail. Let’s find out.
If I Bail Someone Out of Jail, Am I Responsible for Them
Signing a bond for someone else carries responsibilities and risks.
When you sign a bond for someone else, you assume the responsibility that comes with it. If the offender fails to appear in court or violates their bail conditions, you are obligated to pay the money.
As a result, co-signing a bail bond is not something you should take lightly. It has the potential to harm you financially in the long term.
Responsibilities
As a co-signer, you have three primary responsibilities:
1. The financial commitment – If the defendant fails to appear in court, you must pay the whole bail sum either in cash or by selling assets such as your home.
2. Ensuring court attendance – You must also ensure that the defendant appears in court on the appropriate days and take action to ensure their attendance. For example, if they flee, you should notify the bail bondsman right once and provide information about their likely whereabouts. You must also arrange for transportation to the court if they do not have their own.
3. Ensuring release conditions – You must ensure that they follow bail restrictions, such as curfews and wearing electronic tracking devices.
What happens if you bond someone out of jail and they run
As you might expect, the risks of being a co-signer are high. Some may have serious long-term consequences for your overall quality of life.
For example, financial hardship is a major problem. Unless you are extremely affluent, forfeited bail is expensive. Bail bond agencies may insist that you repay the entire amount, which could be more than $100,000 in some situations.
You also risk harming your relationship with the defendant. If you co-sign their bail bond and they flee, you risk losing them as a part of your life.
As a result, before becoming a co-signer, ensure that you understand the dangers. Check that the defendant understands their responsibilities and obligations to you. Do not sign anything if you do not trust them or believe their previous behavior will cause you to lose money.
Signing a bail bond generally implies agreeing that an individual will appear in court; this allows the bonding business to recoup its bail expenditure. Remember that skipping a court date does not always mean the end of the world. In most cases, an individual’s court date can be rescheduled due to illness or unexpected life events.
Unfortunately, some people will flee after being released from jail. This is bad news for both the person on the run and the person responsible for posting the bail bond. You may be civilly liable in certain circumstances, which means you must pay any additional expenses incurred by the bail bondsman. For example, they may need to hire a bounty hunter to track down the defendant.
If the individual is not discovered within a set time frame, you will be responsible for paying the full amount of the bond. This can cause financial problems, to say the least. Signers who utilized collateral rather than money to guarantee their bail bond are in considerably greater jeopardy. They could lose real estate, automobiles, and other assets.
Considerations for Co-signing a Bond
So, what factors should you consider before co-signing a bond?
Is it affordable?
First, decide if you can afford to co-sign the bail bond. What would happen to your life if you lost a significant amount of money, like $50,000?
If you can afford that kind of loss, then go ahead and assist the defendant. However, if it makes you significantly impoverished, you should consider it twice.
Do you trust the defendant?
It is also critical to trust the defendant. After all, your finances are under their control.
Consider whether you believe they will attend court and follow the other bail terms imposed by the judge. Consider whether they’ve ever skipped a hearing (and the consequences).
Will it strain your relationship?
You should also consider whether co-signing may cause strain in your relationship. Can you forgive them if you lose your money?
Many family members assume that their connection can withstand incidents like this. However, when large sums of money are involved, the situation is not always apparent.
Are you prepared to face unpleasant legal consequences?
Finally, consider whether you are prepared to face harsh legal consequences if the offender violates their bail conditions. Can you withstand legal action from the bail agent?
Final Thoughts
Signing a bond for someone transfers responsibility for meeting bail conditions from them to you. If they fail to appear in court, you are suddenly financially and legally liable.
As a result, you should give it serious thought. Only co-sign a bail bond if you believe it is secure and trust the defendant. Do not take unnecessary risks, and constantly consider alternate solutions if they exist.
Using a bail bondsman’s services can help you save a lot of money in your court case. If you need assistance or have any queries related to bail bonds in MN, please contact us at. Midwest Bail Bonding is committed to assisting people in tough situations to get home to their families.
