10 Tips for Choosing A Reputable Bail Bondsman Check Reviews and Testimonials. Ask for Recommendations. Understand the Fees and Charges. Availability and Accessibility. Experience in the Local Legal System. Collateral and Payment Plans. Ask About the Timeline. Trust Your Instincts.
Best-case scenario: Release within 30 minutes to 2 hours after posting bail during regular business hours. More typical scenario: Release within 4-8 hours, especially during off-peak hours or weekends. Worst-case scenario: Release could be delayed for 24 hours or more in complex cases or due to logistical hurdles.
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.
Background Check and Disqualifications A clean background is crucial. You cannot have any felony convictions. If you have a felony on your record, you are automatically disqualified from becoming a bail bonds agent.
APPLYING FOR A BAIL BOND LICENSE Eligibility for a license is limited to persons who have not previously been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony, or to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or dishonesty.
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.
If the felonies on your record have been adjudicated by a court, in other words, not mere arrests where the cases have been dropped or dismissed by the prosecutors, then you will be prevented from qualifying for a license as a bail bond agent.
18+ and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. Successfully complete a state-approved 120 hour basic certification course. Successfully complete a state-approved correspondence course for bail bond agents. Pass a final exam given by the state Department of Financial Services.