3 Bail Bond Mistakes That Could Cost Your Freedom

The bail bond process can be confusing and intimidating, especially if you've never had to deal with it before. If you're not careful, you could easily make a mistake that could land you back in jail. Here are three bail bond mistakes to avoid at all costs.

Failure to Appear in Court

If you're released on bail, you have to show up for all your court appearances. Failure to do so, and the court may issue a warrant for your arrest, and you'll be right back where you started. Missing just one court date can be enough to land you in jail, so make sure you have a solid plan in place for getting to and from the courthouse.

In addition, the court may seize any collateral you put up for bail if you fail to appear. So, if you've posted bail using your home or car as collateral, you could lose those assets if you don't show up for court.

Keep in mind that if you bail someone out of jail, you are responsible for ensuring they show up for their court dates. If they don't, you could be on the hook for the entire bail amount.

Misrepresenting Yourself to the Bail Bondsman

When working with a bail bond agent, you need to be honest about your situation. If you try to hide anything or misrepresent the facts, the bail bondsman could refuse to post bail or revoke the bail bond if they find out later. For example, if your bail is $20,000, and you tell the bail bondsman you have a job that pays $100,000 per year, they may be more likely to post bail. However, if they later find out you only make $30,000 per year, they could revoke the bail bond, and you could find yourself back in jail.

Your bail bondsman is there to help you, but they can only do their job if you're honest with them. Any attempts to mislead them could end up costing you your freedom.

Failure to Comply With the Terms of Your Bail

When you're released on bail, there will be certain conditions you have to follow. These conditions are put in place to ensure you don't pose a danger to the community. Some common bail conditions include things like obeying a curfew and staying away from drugs and alcohol. You might also be required to submit to random drug tests and stay within your state.

If you fail to comply with the terms of your bail, you could be arrested and taken back into custody. So, it's important you understand all the conditions of your bail before you agree to them.

Contact a local bail bonds agency to learn more. 

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