By Marci Nielsen


A bail bond is one of the methods that are used for securing the release of defendants from police custody. Defendants are usually awaiting trial for charges labeled against them. Family members, friends, bail bond agents, or the defendants themselves have to sign an agreement document before release. The document directs the court to retain a certain sum of money should the defendant fail to return to court for their trial. When one needs an agent in bail bonds Richmond VA should be given priority.

Bail bond agents are kinds of agents that offer the kind of money that is needed in order for a defendant to be released. Since many defendants usually lack the amount of money needed, especially if the crime is a serious one, they usually seek the services of an agent. Usually the agent is paid an amount of money that is equal to between ten to twenty percent of total amount paid.

The liability of paying the amount needed by the court should the individual fail to appear for trial shifts to the agent once they agree to offer their services to the defendant. Defendants usually become clients. However, agents do not agree based on the word of mouth alone, they need collateral to guarantee that they will be paid for the amount of money they will have to pay to a court.

Collateral usually comes in many different forms. The client can give away securities, jewelry, or a written guaranty from creditworthy relatives or friends. In case the agent faces any kind of losses, the collateral they hold can be used to service them. Collateral in the form of jewelry and securities may be sold while a written guaranty may be taken to court to retrieve the specified amount.

Agents do not accept all clients, they weight the risks involved. Certain factors such as criminal records, employment, and location of residence are among what agents consider. Clients are classified into good risks and bad risks. Clients considered to be good risks are those with good records of employment and crime and have also resided in the location for long.

On accepting to take a defendant as a client, the agent posts the bond at the court. The court is usually the one in which the client is supposed to come back later for the trial. The amount specified usually corresponds with the nature and degree of the crime. Obviously, defendants on trial for serious crimes are required to pay huge sums.

Upon receiving the bond, a ticket is issued by the court clerk. The ticket or a similar document is sent to the law enforcement officer to let them know that the bail has been met. The law enforcement officers then release the defendant.

When the trial happens and the defendant appears in court, the liability under bail is terminated. Besides this circumstance, another situation under which liability is terminated is if the terms expressed in the agreement cannot be executed. This is possible only if a defendant is imprisoned, arrested, dead, or detained. This may happen in the same jurisdiction or in a different one.




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