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Need To Pay Bail? Know These Three Ways To Do It

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Have you been arrested and waiting for your court hearing but have the opportunity to be released early on bail? If so, you'll be wondering how you are going to pay for it. There are three methods that you can use to cover your bail amount, and by knowing the differences, you can pick the one that works best for you.

Cash

The easiest way to get out of jail is going to be to use cash. Unfortunately, this is only possible if you have the cash on hand to do so. It is possible that the judge sets bail at an amount higher than you can afford, which won't make this option practical. You do have the option to appeal your bail amount and have a judge lower it, which can bring it within range to pay for it in cash.

There is no downside to using cash as long as you appear in court for your hearing. If so, you'll get back the money for the bond without paying a fee. If you do not show up to court, you will lose all of the money that you posted for bail.

Property

For those people who are coming up short on their bail but have other assets that are worth more than their bail, it may be possible to use those assets. It is common for courts to allow you to use a vehicle or house as a form of payment rather than cash. Be aware that you do not always have to own the property outright. For example, if you will be using your home, you only have to have enough equity in the home to cover the bail amount. The same goes for a car that you want to use to cover bail.

Now showing up to court means that you will have to forfeit your property. If you used your home for bail, you'll be forced to foreclose on the home to cover the bail amount. If you used a car, it could be repossessed and taken away from you if the vehicle is found.

Bail Bond

You always have the option to use a bail bond. While bail bonds will charge you a premium to borrow the money, they can help you pay bail when you do not have cash and lack property with equity. For more information about bail bonds, reach out to a local bondsman in your area.


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