A surety bond is an agreement made between a person and a bondsman. In the State of Washington, a bail bondsman, bondsperson, bail agent, and bond agent are all names used for a person who is licensed by the Washington Department of Insurance to sell surety bonds and is authorized to conduct business in the state. He or she is an agent for an insurance company that sells surety bonds. The bondsman agrees to post the necessary bond so the defendant can be released from jail. This agreement is backed by an insurance company contract signed by the person and the bondsman on behalf of the insurance company. There has to be enough cash or collateral to cover the full amount of the bond in case the defendant misses his or her court date. Only a person who has been licensed by the Washington Department of Insurance may post a surety bond.
The Benefits of Hiring of Bondsman
If someone doesn’t have the cash to cover the full bond amount and sheriff’s fee, they may wish to hire a bondsman to bond themself or someone else out of jail. A surety bail bond through a bail bond company like A-Affordable Bail Bonds typically costs 10% of the total bond amount, plus any additional fees. This can vary company to company, however. Also, sometimes the court keeps a cash bond in part or in full to cover a defendant’s court fines and fees. Someone bonding someone out of jail who doesn’t want to take the chance that all or part of their cash will be used to pay the defendant’s court fines, fees, and restitution may wish to hire a bail bond agent.
How Much Does a Surety Bond Cost?
A surety bond will typically cost 10% of the bond amount, an agent’s fee, and a sheriff’s fee. These fees are nonrefundable regardless of the guilt or innocence of the defendant and are fully earned upon the posting of the bond.
How Do I Post a Surety Bond?
For assistance with the bonding process, contact a bail bond company. Typically, there is a short process to clearing an individual as a cosigner, followed by dispatching an agent to post the bond at the jail and fill out paperwork with the defendant and cosigner. With advances in technology, some companies are also able to complete bonds via phone, fax, or email.
What Do Cosigners Have to Do?
Cosigners are responsible for ensuring that the defendant attends all court dates relating to the case. If the defendant misses a court date, cosigners will be expected to help the bondsman find the defendant and get them back into court right away. If the bondsman has to find or arrest the defendant to get him or her back into court, the cosigner must pay those expenses. If the cosigner and bondsman are unable to find the defendant and return him or her to court in a set amount of time, the cosigner must pay the full bond amount in addition to any associated costs.
Before signing any contracts or promissory notes, cosigners should make sure they read through them carefully and understand them. They should ask the bail agent or company if they have any questions before signing these types of documents and always get copies of all signed documents at the time of signing them. In Washington, all bail bond companies are required by state law to supply copies of these documents to the defendant and all cosigners on a bond.
Surety Bonds From A-Affordable Bail Bonds
If you need a surety bond, call A-Affordable Bail Bonds toll free at 1-888-695-8950, and we will be happy to assist you. We post bonds in every county throughout the State of Washington, whether we have a physical office location or not, as many of our independent bail agents work from home and travel to clients in nearby areas. We can also complete bonds via phone, fax, or email. A-Affordable Bail Bonds is also authorized to provide a discounted rate of 8% for active military, union members, and clients who have hired a private attorney to represent them. Request a bail bond today.
