In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics of co-signers for a bail bond. Vital for providing additional financial backing and assurance to both the court and the bail bondsman posting bond for a given detainee, co-signers are an important piece of many bail bond posting processes.

At Beehive Bail Bonds, we offer 24/7 bail bond services to anyone who has recently been detained, and are happy to assist with any and all areas of the co-signing process. In today’s part two, we’ll go over a few areas potential co-signers need to think about before signing anything, including some fees involved, what happens if the defendant does not appear for their required court date, and more.

Basic Fees

For starters, it’s important for co-signers to be aware of the small fee amounts that will not be refundable even if the defendant appears properly. Bail bond company fees are usually around 10% of the total amount, though this will vary. This amount needs to be paid in cash in most cases, and is generally not refundable.

What Happens Upon Failure to Appear?

In addition, co-signers need to be fully aware of what happens in a situation where the defendant they are co-signing for fails to show up for their required court appearances. Some of the fallout here may include:

• The bail bond company will, within reason, work with you to locate the individual before taking further action.
• In some cases, the bail bond company will be forced to hire a bounty hunter to attempt to retrieve the accused. In such cases, the co-signer who paid the bond must also pay for these extra expenses.
• For the accused themselves, skipping bail, not appearing or attempting to flee will all result in extended jail time or additional penalties.

Considerations Before Co-Signing

Some general factors to consider before you co-sign a bail bond for someone else:

• The individual in question: Do you believe you can trust the defendant you’re posting bail for to show up for their court date and remain within the law moving forward? If not, you should not co-sign their bond and take on the risk of them fleeing.
• Details: Do not sign any bond paperwork without going over the details and understanding exactly what you’re getting into, including asking clarifying questions if needed.
• Finances: Another important factor is ensuring you have the financial security to cover the full bail amount if the defendant does happen to skip.
• Additional assistance: In many cases, those co-signing a bail bond also help keep their friend or loved one in good shape through other forms of assistance, whether we’re talking mentorship, prevention from bad influences or help with a living situation. Are you ready for this kind of responsibility along with your financial one?

For more on co-signing bail bonds, or to learn about any of our bail bond agent services in Summit County and throughout the nation, speak to the staff at Beehive Bail Bonds today.