Many people are confused between the two terms and what they entail. Central Florida Bonding provides this information to let people know what these terms mean.
What is Bail?
Bail, according to Florida Statutes 903.011 is “a form of pretrial release. Any monetary or cash component of any form of pretrial release may be met by a surety bond.”
Bail is essentially the amount that the defendant must pay in order to be released from jail. Bail is set by the judge and is used to help guarantee that the defendant will appear at a future court proceeding.
After the bail is set and paid, then the defendant may leave jail.
There are Options When It Comes to Paying Bail:
• The defendant can pay the bail in the full amount and leave jail. The defendant must follow the requirements set by the judge. A refund of bail money can be requested once the court case is over (minus court costs and fees). If the rules aren’t followed, then the defendant will lose the bail money.
• A defendant can have a bail bond agency issue a surety bond. The bail bond agency might have additional requirements of the defendant such as having to check in with the bail bond agency. The defendant does not get a refund of the money paid to the bail bond agency.
Most people can’t afford to pay the bail amount in full and that is when they turn to a bail bond agency for help.
What is a Bond?
Bond, also known as bail bond, is issued from a bail bond agency. If a person is unable to pay the full amount of bail, then they can enter into a legal contract with a bail bond agency. The bail bond agency will then issue a surety bond on behalf of the defendant which allows the defendant to only pay a portion of the bail instead of the whole amount. This bond is used to guarantee that the defendant will return to court. If the defendant fails to appear, then the bail bond agency loses the money from the bond.How Much Does a Bail Bond Cost In Florida?
In Florida, the cost of a bail bond is 10% of the bail amount. For example, if your bail is set at $5,000 then you pay $500 for your bail bond. If the bail is at $1,000 or less, than the minimum fee to the bail bond agency is $100. The 10% fee is set by the state of Florida and is non-negotiable.
Central Florida Bonding offers bail bonds for a variety of charges. We offer bail bonds for clients charged with drug trafficking, DUI, assault, battery, reckless driving, child neglect, theft, driving with a suspended license and more.
We have a bail bond agent available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days of the year. All of our bail bond agents are experienced and knowledgeable. They are there to help. Our agents can help a defendant navigate the ins and outs of the bail bond process including assisting with paperwork, answering questions, and explaining the bail bond process.
Central Floridians have relied upon Central Florida Bonding since 1979. We serve all of Central Florida and can post bond for defendants in the Orange County Jail/33rd Street Jail, Osceola County Jail, Seminole County Jail, Lake County Jail, Volusia County Jail, and Brevard County Jail. We can also post bonds with affiliated agencies across the United States.
To start the bail bond process, please give us a call at 407-841-3646. We strive to make the bail bond process as simple and quick as possible. Rely on our expertise, please call us today at 407-841-3646.
