FAQ’s
More than likely if you’re looking for a bail bondsman, then you probably have questions. Here are some of the more common questions we receive. Still have questions? Call us at 918-584-4500. We’re here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How to I start the bail bond process?
Simply call us at (918) 584-4500 or come in to our office at 121 N Denver (across from David L. Moss) and let our professional staff walk you through the process.
What is Bail?
In a nutshell, bail is a large part of our jail and legal system that will help family and friends of an accused person so that the accused can be released fromcustody to continue their life before they go in front of a judge in their case. For those that are involved in criminal cases, bail will be a set sum of money that you must pay, or have a bondsman pay for you. This can be in the form of cash, property, or surety bonds that can be posted by the accused or on their behalf by friends or family that will guarantee that they will come to court on their assigned date. Believe it or not, but the right to bail is actually a guaranteed right every American enjoys under the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
How Do Bail Bonds Work?
When someone is put into custody, the court system will set the amount of their bail that will be required before they can be released. Under state law, a bail bond company can provide bail as a type of “insurance,” saying that the defendant will show up in court or that the amount of the bail will be paid in full. Only licensed agents in Oklahoma offer bail bonds, and you should always make sure that you are working with someone that is licensed.
To supply these bail bonds to customers, bail bond companies charge only a premium on the total amount of the bail. Normally, this is just a small percentage of what the bail actually is, which is normally around 10% unless there are unusual circumstances surrounding the case. For example, a bond that is set at $10,000 will have a premium of around $1,000, as well as any additional fees that might be required by the state.
If a bond is set below $3,000, or has multiple charges with it, the percentage goes up accordingly.
What Is A Bail Bond Exactly?
According to Wikipedia, “Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail (and possibly be brought up on charges of the crime of failure to appear).” In some cases, bail money may be returned at the end of the trial, if all court appearances are made, no matter whether the person is found guilty or not guilty of the crime accused. If a bondsman is used and a surety bond has been obtained, the fee for that bond is the fee for the insurance policy purchased and is not refundable.”
What is a Bond Amount?
The bond amount is the full amount of the bond that is set for the defendant. For example, if someone’s bond is $10,000, that is the full bond amount.
What is a Bond Premium?
The bond premium is the amount that the bail bond company charges to post the bond. For that same example of a $10,000 bond amount, the bond premium should be around $1,000.
What is a Forfeiture?
A forfeiture is what happens when someone does not show up to court as they are ordered to by the judge. When this happens, a bench warrant is issued for that person. At this time, the court will also set a deadline for a time when the person either has to be back in custody or the bail bond must be “reinstated”. Many times, this is a simple mistake and can easily be fixed.
Who Is The Indemnitor or Guarantor For A Bond?
The person that signs the bond and is therefore responsible for the defendant while they are out on bond also assumes the financial liability for that person’s bond as well. This person is the indemnitor or guarantor for that bond.
What Is An Exoneration?
When a bond is exonerated during the legal process, it means that the process of that case is finished. It doesn’t matter what the outcome of the case is, it means that the case is over and there has been a ruling – either guilty, not guilty, or dismissed. When this happens, the bond amount is discharged but any unpaid premium amount, fees, or other charges that are owed to the bail bond agency are still owed and due.
What Is A Bond Reinstatement?
When a bond is forfeited, the defendant can have the bench warrant removed if the bail bond company goes to the court and re-activates the bond. This is a normal legal proceeding that requires action by both an attorney and the bonding agency, and normally results in more fees on that bond premium.
How Much Does It Cost To Bail Someone Out?
Each individual case carries a different bond amount. Please call our professionals at (918) 584-4500 to find out exactly what it will cost to post bail for a friend or loved one.