Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a bail bond?
- My Friend or Relative was arrested. What do I do?
- After my first appearance, am I done?
- How can I pay for a friend or relative’s bail if I am in another city or state?
In simple terms, a bail bond is a guarantee from a bail agency that the defendant will appear in court for all court ordered appearances. If he or she is released and then fails to appear in court, the bail bond company must pay the full amount of the bond. The defendant pays a bail agent a percentage of the entire bond and signs a contract with the bonding company agreeing to make all court appearances. Bail agents are licensed by the state of California Department of Insurance. To protect yourself and to receive the highest quality service and bail advice, always use a Nationally Certified Bail Agent like The Bail Bond Doctor.
Q. My friend or relative was arrested. What do I do?
We know that you may be stressed once you get a phone call that your friend or relative is in jail. Don’t panic. The Bail Bond Doctor has helped thousands of families just like yours get their friends or relatives out of jail. This can be done in a few simple steps:
1. Call us and let us know the name of the arrestee and where they are being held. If you are not sure where they are, we can find this out for you.
2. Come to our office and fill out some paperwork. If you can’t come to us, we will come to you—we make house calls! If you are in another city or state, download our forms, provide some information, and fax them back to us. Payment may be made in person, via the Internet, Western Union®, or deposit into our Bank of America account. We accept all major credit cards if you are short on cash.
3. We will go to the jail and turn in all of the bond paperwork to secure your friend or relative’s release. We do ask the defendant to contact our office so that we can explain the bond conditions and complete some additional paperwork.
Q. After my first court appearance, am I done?
No! You must make all court appearances until your trial or you enter a guilty plea or your case is dismissed. If you fail to appear in court, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. Contact The Bail Doctor immediately if you miss court!
Q. How can I pay for a friend or relative’s bail if I am in another city or state?
It’s easy! Simply download the forms from The Bail Bond Doctor’s website. Fill them out and fax them back to us. We will process your credit card information. Then we go to the jail to post the bail and your friend or relative is on their way home!
