Considering Co-Signing for Bail? Find Out Your Responsibilities As a Co-Signer

If the phone rings and it is a loved one telling you that they have been arrested, your first instinct may be to run and bail them out of jail. However, co-signing for a bail bond and bailing someone out of jail is a big responsibility. Before you sign on the dotted line, you need to know what exactly you are signing up for. Here are the responsibilities of someone who co-signs for a bail bond in Las Vegas, Nevada.

To Maintain Contact with the Person Who is Bailed Out

When you co-sign for a bail bond and help to get someone out of jail in Las Vegas, one of the main responsibilities you have is to maintain contact with the individual who is bailed out. It is important for you to know what is going on in their life, where they live and where they work at all times. If they fail to go to court, you need to be able to find them quickly. Maintaining contact helps to ensure that this is something that is done.

To Help Ensure The Bailed Out Individual Goes to Court Dates

Another key responsibility that you have when co-signing for a bail bond in Clark County, Nevada is ensuring that the individual you bail out goes to their court dates. Everyone gets overwhelmed and busy and forgets things at times. Unfortunately, if the individual that you bail out forgets about their court date, the judge could issue a bench warrant. They can be arrested and jailed until they can go in front of a judge. The judge can then raise their bail amount or revoke bail altogether. Paying close attention to when their court dates are, and reminding them or taking them can help to minimize your liability and ensure they remain out of jail until their case is tried and they are sentenced.

To Work with the Bond Company If the Person Bailed Out Has Their Bond Revoked

When you co-sign for a bail bond in Las Vegas, one of the parts of the contract that you are signing states that you agree to work with the bail bond company if a bond is revoked for the person you co-signed the bond for. This means that you tell the bond company exactly where the individual is if you know, and/or work to get them to turn themselves into the jail or the bond company.

To Pay Off the Bond if the Person Who is Bailed Out Runs

The last responsibility that you have when you co-sign a bail bond for someone in Clark County, Nevada is to pay off the bond if the person cannot be found or has run when their bail is revoked. When bail is posted with a bail bond company, you are paying the bail agency 15 percent of the bond amount to post bail. So, if bail is set at $10,000, the fee that you pay the bail agency to post bail is $1,500. But, if the person you co-signed the bond for runs while on bond, you are on the hook for the full bail amount. As such, in this case, you would have to come up with the full $10,000 to pay the bail bond company. If you are unable to come up with the money, the bail bond company can sue you and garnish your wages, seize your bank account and assets, or even possibly place a lien against your home. As such, it is important to ensure that you can pay the bail amount or guarantee the individual will not run before posting bail on behalf of anyone.
When you co-sign for a bail bond, you are taking on the responsibility of ensuring the person makes it to court and financial responsibility if they fail to do so. If you trust the person to show up for court and you want to help post bail bonds in Las Vegas, contact Lightning Bail today. We can help you get your loved one out of jail as quickly as possible.