Considering Co-Signing On A Bail Bond? Educate Yourself First!
A friend, family member, or someone you know calls you from jail. They've been arrested and have to have someone they can trust to co-sign on a bail bond before they can get out. Even though you are asked to do this, you definitely should not feel obligated. Becoming the cosigner on a bail bond is a huge responsibility to take on even though most people will sign the dotted line without giving the whole picture a great deal of thought. The truth is, co-signing for a bail bond for someone you know is a nice gesture, but this is not an act that should be taken lightly. There are a few things you should know before you make a commitment to the bail bondsman.
You may not even be qualified to be the co-signer on the bail bond.
Not everyone can actually co-sign for a bail bond because those that offer these bonds do usually have a set of conditions that must be met before you can qualify. A few examples of these conditions that you may run into include:
- you are required to have stable employment
- you are required to have tangible property you can pace as collateral
- you are a resident of the area
Co-signing for a bail bond can mean you are responsible for the accused.
How well do you trust the person who is asking you to cosign on a bail bond to get them out of jail? If you are not really certain that you can ensure this person will go back to their scheduled court hearings it may not be the best idea for you to sign on their bond and take responsibility. Once you sign in agreement, it means you also bear the responsibility of making sure the person you are signing for actually shows up when they are due in court. This may not be a burden you want to take on with someone you do not fully trust.
You have the right to revoke your agreement if the person does not follow through.
If something happens and you feel that you have co-signed for the bond by mistake, as the cosigner, you do have the right to go back to the bail bondsman and let them know. In some situations, you can have the bond revoked, which means the individual will then be arrested. If you see that being the co-signer on the bond is going to be problematic, this is a good thing to keep in mind.
Check out sites like http://www.abailnowbailbonds.com for more information.