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Sometimes Asked Questions
(SAQ)
Q. How much do I have to pay?
All bonds start out at 10% of the
set bail. So if the bail is $5000 then the Premium
(what you have to pay) is $500 . However...
Sometimes, it's more. Expect to pay more than ten percent if
there are Failures to Appear on the case (s).
"...well that's not right, it's only supposed to be 10
percent" - When the defendant demonstrates wilful
failure to appear by not going to court, Our risk is higher
and for that we charge a higher premium (just like regular
insurance agents do). But keep in mind that it's only
charged if we determine that the FTA is deliberate. Not every
Failure to Appear is automatically considered
deliberate. In any case, if we agree to post the bond,
the premium either 10 percent, or if there are Failures to
Appear, our premium is more reasonable compared to the other
agencies.
Q. How do I get my money back after the
defendant goes to court?
You don't get it
back. Once the defendant is released, there is no "getting
the money back". The premium is never refundable at
all. That's the difference between posting "cash" or
posting a "surety" bond. If you want all the money
back, you have to pay the jail the WHOLE bail bond in
advance (ex- the whole $5000) In doing so you are posting
a "Cash" bond and the bondsman is not needed. When
you hire a bondsman, he will post a "Surety" bond for the
release of the defendant and you don't have to pay the
whole set bond amount to the jail. You pay a "bond
premium" to the bail bondsman which is always less than
the full bail bond amount by far. Your money also
does not get tied into fines, or Court Costs, Restitution,
or other court ordered monetary sanctions levied against
the defendant. When you post a "Cash" bond, you get back
the money but all those things are subtracted from your
refund.
Q. What happens if the dude don't go to
court?
Then there's a big
problemo. Sometimes, it can be a simple thing. Like if
it's his first failure to appear the bonding agent will
contact the co signer, and have him bring the defendant to
Court at the next court setting and the judge may recall
the arrest warrant, continue us on his bond, and reset the
court date. There could be fees involved in that process
if the bondsman has to go to court with the defendant.
If the bondsman can't locate the
defendant through the information you or he/she put on the
application, bounty hunters will then be brought in at
your expense to apprehend the fugitive and you pay every
step of the way. So, if they come to your door, the best
thing to do is tell them exactly where he/she is at. Your
expenses will be at a minimum. Don't ever hide the
defendant in your house. That will eventually get
your door kicked down, and all kinds of strange things
will start happening. Remember "...I don't know" is not
something bounty hunters accept at all. So, if you plan on
playing games, you will lose. You could, in fact have to
pay the whole face value of the bond, plus recovery
expenses and fees. The best idea to avoid any
problems is just always know where the defendant is. Be a
part of his or her life. You don't have to be intrusive,
but keep an eye and ear open. You will be helping him or
her get through the rough times in their lives and stay
out of trouble.
Q.
...Well, it says 10% to the court. So how does
that work with a bondsman?
Bonds that are set in some area's of
Missouri are what's called "10% bonds". Mostly in
the Kansas City area, and St. Louis area. The casenet
entry will say something like this: "bond set at
$5000 10% authorized". In those cases, you can pay the
court 10% of $5000 but ONLY if the defendant is in custody
in that courts jurisdiction. Let's say your baby
mama gets arrested in Branson for a prostitution warrant
in Cass County the bond is $5000 and it's 10%
authorized. So you rush over to Stone County Jail with the
10% ($500). You will be sent away until you either
get $5000 in cash, or you pay a bondsman his rate, and he
writes a "Surety" bond returnable to Cass County. That's
where All Area Bail Bonds comes in. You call us, and we
post it.
If you can't do any of that, the defendant, at some point
in time will be extradited to Cass County where you can
then post the 10% to the court, and she get's out. The 10%
bonds are only accepted at the jail in THAT county. It's
not for everywhere.
Q.
...What is a Capias bond?
When the defendant fails to
appear in Court or has violated his/her probation,
sometimes his judge will want to see him first
before letting him/her out. He will issue a
"Capias Warrant" or "Capias Bond" with or without a
bond amount. So when the defendant is arrested on
the warrant, he/she will not be released at all
until they see the judge who issued that warrant. If
they are in another county jail, they will be
extradited.
If the Capias warrant has a bond
amount, that means that after he/she sees the judge,
he/she can post the bond. If the Capias warrant does
not have a bond amount then the judge will have to
set one first. Until he does that, the defendant
will rot in jail. In those cases, it's a real good
idea to hire an attorney.