Important Questions:

We all hope that we never will get into a sticky situation, but here are 5 questions you should ask when you need a Bail Bondsman.

1. What is the bail process?

The bail bond process is generally the same in police departments across the state of Connecticut. Once the detainee is booked, processed and bail is set; the bond out process can begin. From the time of bond execution to the release of your friend or family member, could be about 1 hour. The time does vary depending on other factors such as lack of staff, holiday, time of day or night, shift change and other situations. Therefore, if you need to bail someone out of jail in any police department in the state, make sure to budget your time accordingly. It could take anywhere from one to three hours.

2. What does a Bail Bondsman do?

A bail bondsman is an authorized individual licensed by the Connecticut Insurance Department to provide bail bond service. Bail bondsmen can facilitate the release of most detained individuals by providing surety bonds. A Bondsman provides a bail bond which is an insurance product that guarantees the appearance of a defendant in court. It involves a legal agreement between the bail agent, insurance company, indemnitor and court that the defendant will show up for all court appearances or be liable for the full amount of the bond to the court.

3. What is a Premium?

Premium is the state regulated rate that is charged for a bail bond. Generally, the purchase price of the bond is between 7% and 10% of the total bond value. The premium is what you will pay for the bail bond; the cost for getting a friend or family member out of jail.

4. What is collateral and how does it work?

Collateral is something of value that is used to secure a debt or ensure payment. Sometimes a bail bond company will receive collateral in order to ensure that the defendant appears in court. Most bail bond collateral is in the form of real estate or cash. A Bail Agency can request that additional money, apart from the premium be given in order to execute bail. Property is usually evaluated based on available equity.

5. Why do I need a co-signer?

The bail bond is a contract between the bail agent (bondsman), the courts, and the person posting the bail (co-signer). Co-signers are used to guarantee the bail bond. They assume a financial responsibility if the defendant does not appear in court. They also, assume financial responsibility for any unpaid premium.

6. When do I have to pay my Bail Bond balance?

Full payment is due within 15 months of the bond execution date. Payments can be made weekly, bi-weekly and/or monthly. Time between payments cannot exceed 45 days.