The collateral is usually preferred to be liquid, such as an irrevocable letter of credit, but some sureties will also take other pieces of collateral, such as certain equipment or even real property. A Collateral Bond is different when used in the context of a surety bond.
Personal jewelry represents another commonly used form of collateral. The value of individual items such as rings, broaches, or necklaces can be difficult to ascertain without a professional assessment. Some bond agencies are therefore understandably cautious about accepting jewelry as collateral.
The bail bond agent will need you to sign some paperwork in order for you to secure their services. This usually means paying an amount to the agent, usually a percentage of the total bail amount, and signing off on any collateral for the bond.
Bail bondsmen are generally not too picky about what kind of collateral they will accept. Real estate and houses are commonly put up in cases with a high bail requirement, but defendants can also use jewelry, stocks, bonds, and other investments and valuables.
Once bail has been set, the defendant or a third party can post the bail to secure the defendant's release from custody. If the defendant cannot afford to post bail, they may seek the assistance of a bail bondsman.