How Can A Criminal Attorney Help Me Post Bail in California?
Usually, if you have been arrested and charged with an offense, you will be given a chance to post bail and be released until your first hearing. There are three ways you can post bail in California if you have been charged with a crime:
• Cash
• Bail bond
• Property bond
Cash
Cash is typically the easiest way to pay. In some jurisdictions, you can also pay by credit card.
As long as you attend all of your court appearances, your bail will be returned. Sometimes, court proceedings can last for years. You won’t be able to use or invest that money at all during that time period.
Bail Bond
A bail bond is an agreement between you and a bail bond agent. Under the agreement, you promise to appear in court and the agent promises to post bail for you.
You will have to pay the agent a premium, which is usually 10 percent of your bail. However, if you retain our law firm before deciding to bail your loved one out of jail then the bail bond fee will drop from 10% to 8% which can save you a lot of money.
Property Bond
A property bond is where you post your equity interest in real property as collateral to ensure your appearance in court. To be able to post a property bond, the value of the equity must be twice the bail amount.
If you fail to appear in court, the court will get a lien on the property. A property bond is the most difficult of the three types of bonds to post. It requires that you convince the court with a recent property appraisal that the value of the property is sufficient to cover twice the face value of the bail amount.
A California Bail Attorney Can Help
When setting your bail, the court will look at the following factors to determine the amount:
• the protection of the public
• the seriousness of the offense charged
• previous criminal record; and
• probability of you appearing at trial or hearing of the case
You want your bail to be set as low as possible. You need an experienced criminal defense attorney if you are going to convince the judge that your bail should be low.
Your attorney will also be able to help you decide whether or not to post bail immediately or wait until after your arraignment. If you post bail immediately, your attorney can start working on your case and negotiating with the prosecutor to either lower your charges or get the case completely dismissed.
If you wait to post bail, it forces the prosecutor to decide whether or not to file charges quickly. You need to speak with an attorney who will help you decide which option is right for you and your family.
Wallin & Klarich has helped clients obtain lower bail amounts for over thirty years. Call us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 to speak with a California bail attorney about posting bail for yourself or a loved one. We will be there when you call.
