If you have been arrested and asked a family member or friend to help arrange for your bail, there are several important factors you should be aware of before you do so. When your friend or family co-signs for your bail, they are not only taking responsibility for the payment of the bond, but also taking responsibility for you to appear in court. If they agree to help, they will either have the option of paying the full bail amount directly to the court or they can utilize the services of a licensed bail bondsman. When they sign a contract with a bail bond company, they become the indemnitor; this means they assume all responsibility to the court and the bailsman. The contract is a legally binding document.
What Happens When you Skip Bail
What happens if you skip out on your bail? As the signer or co-signer of the contract, your family member or friend are taking responsibility for you to show up for the required court appearances. Most often when you fail to go to court it is a simple case of car trouble or forgetfulness and these situations can be resolved with a simple phone call to the court or bail bondsman. It’s important to understand though that failure to appear is a criminal offense. When you do not appear in court when requested to do so, it can result in a felony or misdemeanor charge. The details of this criminal charge depend on the circumstances and jurisdiction you are in, but in most cases, deliberately skipping court results in additional legal consequences. This charge is also a permanent mark on your legal record, which will make bail bondsman less likely to help you in the future because you have shown behavior that is untrustworthy in the past.
Bench Warrant Issued for Failure to Appear
When you knowingly skip out on your assigned court date, bail will be revoked and a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest. Warrants last forever and have no expiration date. The public is screened for warrants on a regular basis such as routine traffic stops and international air travel. Skipping bail is serious for both you and the person who cosigned for your bail; and it has a very long list of consequences. In the state of California both the bondsman and the cosigner will have 180 days to get you back into the legal system. If it becomes necessary for the bail bond agent to apprehend you, the agent may use the services of a fugitive recovery agent or bounty hunter. In these circumstances, as the cosigner, your family member or friend will be liable for paying the additional costs to cover the expense of the bounty hunter.
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The cosigner will be liable to cover all fugitive recovery costs. If you are unable to be located, the cosigner will have to pay the full bail amount back to the court or bail bond agency. If collateral such as a house was posted, it will be considered forfeited and your family member or friend will be left empty handed and alone. In conclusion, when your family member or friend agrees to co-sign for your bail, you have a responsibility to them and should strive to attend all your court dates and not skip out on bail. Contact Ajua Bail Bonds for compassionate bail bond services to get you out of jail fast!
