Understanding Bond: Your Guide to Freedom Options
Did you or a family member recently get arrested and now they’re asking for you to post bond? Are you like, what does that even mean? Hi, I’m Tahlequah criminal defense attorney Aaron Grubb and today we’re going to talk about what a bond is, and what posting a bond actually means.
So, what bond is, is it is the court saying, okay you do not have to stay in jail while we are having a pending criminal case against you if you’re able to supply the court with this amount of money. Bonds can be set from anywhere from a thousand dollars to a hundred thousand dollars, depending on the severity of the crime and how likely the person is to run. Factors such as whether they are considered a risk for running play a significant role in this decision.
Options for Posting Bond
You have two options whenever you post bond. You can either post bond yourself, which means you will put up the full amount. We’ll talk about what happens to that amount in a second. The second option is to get a bailsman or a bondsman to actually post bond for you.
What usually happens is you have to pay about a 10% flat fee for the bond. For example, if your bond is set at $5,000, you would need to pay a $500 fee to the bondsman, and then they will post the bond for you. This option can sometimes be more manageable for those who cannot afford to pay the full bond amount upfront.
What Does Posting Bond Mean?
So, what does posting bond mean? Well, posting a bond means that you’re putting up this money to assure the court that you will not run away. At the end of the case, or once the matter is resolved, the court will usually give that money back.
However, many people are not aware that some courts may subtract court costs and fees from the bond amount. This means that when you receive your money back, it might not be the full amount you initially posted due to those deductions. It’s important to clarify these details with your legal representation.
Don’t Stay in Jail: Take Action
If you have questions about posting bail, please reach out to me. You can find me at Tahlequahattorney.com. Again, my name is Aaron Grubb, and I’m a criminal lawyer Tahlequah residents trust with their legal issues. If you’re uncertain about the next steps or need guidance, I offer a low-cost initial strategy session to discuss your case. Call me today at (918) 458-2677 to get started.
