How does a bail bondsman work?
A bail bond is a guarantee note saying that you will appear in court at a certain date and time. Typically, a bail bondsman will charge 10% per year on typical bail. (this means if you have a $100K bail, you can get a bond for $10K and it will cost you $10K per year). When you sign the bail guarantee, you usually agree to check in with the bail bondsman at given times. If you fail to appear, the bail bondsman usually forfeits the bail to the court . The bondsman can thenn go after you for the bail amount (both criminally and in civil court). A smart bail bondsman will require collateral (typically a pink slip or house).
