Q. What happens after an arrest of a family or friend?
A. Arresting agency will take them into custody for processing at the city or county jail, which can normally take anywhere from 1 to 8 hours. After the booking process, bail will be set for the offense if they are not released on there own recognizance.
Q. When should I call Superior Bail Bonds for assistance?
A. Immediately upon the arrest or when you have been informed by the defendant that they have been arrested. Calling our office will help us monitor there booking process, explain how bail works at that booking facility and inform you when bail can be accepted.
Q. How do I qualify for a bail bond?
A. We will ask several questions pertaining to your financial, employment and living situation. A determination based on the amount of the bond, will be made if property or collateral will be needed to secure the bond prior to pre-qualifying you as the indemnitor (co-signer). In many instances, most bonds will not require collateral, but each case is uniquely qualified and approved. We do not run credit scores during our underwriting, because this type of services deserves a better evaluation of approval and is not based on any credit score.
Q. What is a indemnitor?
A. If you qualify for the bond, you will become the indemnitor on the bail agreement. As an indemnitor, you accept responsibility for the face amount of the bond. This includes the defendant’s appearance in court every time they are order to appear in court until the case is discharged or they are sentenced. Your responsibility also includes unpaid premiums, recovery fees for non-appearances, court fees, and filing of motions to get the bail bond discharged by the court.
Q. What if the defendant fails to appear while on bail?
A. If the defendant fails to appear for court while on bail then the court will order the bail bond forfeited. This simple means that you as the co-signer are full responsible for the bail bond, and we have only a certain amount of time to return the defendant to custody. You will be responsible for fugitive recover cost, court fees, sheriff fees, administrative fees and any other fees associated with getting the bond discharged.
Q. If I deposited collateral or property to secure the bond, when do I get it back?
A. Any collateral deposited as security for the bail bond will be held until verification from court is received that the bond has been exonerated. If the bond was forfeited, and a judgment was paid by the bond company, than all property or collateral will be properly processed to of set the bail bond judgment paid by the bail agency, and any remaining balance will be the co-signers responsibility.
Q. What is the cost to post a bail bond?
A. California premium fee is 10 % of the face amount of the bond. For example if a defendants bail is $5,000, your premium would be $500. The premium on the bond is good for 1 year. If the defendant’s case goes beyond a year from posting, a renewal fee may be charged. The fees are regulated by the department of insurance and are non-negotiable. We do offer a discounted rate of 8% bond premium for customers that have a retained attorney or union members. To learn more if you qualify, please call our office.
Q. Can I get any of the premium refunded?
A. Any premium paid is fully earned upon the defendants release from custody and no refund is allowed by law.
Q. Will you accept payments on the premium?
A. Upon approval, we do accept down payment, with the balance paid out in monthly installments. As mentioned above, we do not take into consideration of credit score, but an overall financial look and honest agreement of your ability to make monthly payments. We know the economy is tough, so we make every effort to help those that are honest with us about there ability to make payments.
Q. Are you local?
A. We have local resident bail bond agents serving through out Southern California. All the resident agents live, work and play within there area of residence, so we are local to you and the communities we serve.