Bail bonds play an important role in the legal system. If you or a loved one has been incarcerated in Las Vegas, Nevada, bail is set automatically based on a bail bonds schedule or is set by a judge, depending on the crime committed and whether there is a bail hearing. After bail has been set, a bail bond can be posted, which allows you or your loved one to leave the jail. This gives you the ability to continue with your life until your case goes to trial or you reach a plea deal. This is important as it helps to ensure you can work, pay your bills and work on a legal defense. However, sometimes after you are arrested, the charges against you are dropped. If you have posted bail, you may wonder if your bail will be returned to you if the charges are dropped. Here is some information you need to know.
Do You Get Your Bail Money Back if Charges Are Dropped?
Upon hearing that the charges against you have been dismissed, you will be happy. You may feel relieved and you may feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of your shoulders. You no longer have to worry about going to trial or any possible consequences, such as jail or fees. After it begins to sink in that the charges are being or have been dismissed, you may start to think about bail. It is then that you may wonder if you get your bail money back. Unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to whether you get your money back. The answer to this question lies in what type of bail bond you posted.
What Are the Two Different Types of Bail Bonds?
When bail is posted on behalf of someone incarcerated in Clark County, one of two different types of bail is typically posted. The type of bail that is posted affects whether or not someone gets their bail bonds money back if charges are dropped. Here are the two types of bail that can be accepted and how the bail process works with each one.
Cash Bail
The first type of bail bond that can be posted is a cash bond. If your loved one has been incarcerated, you have the option of posting a cash bail for them. This requires you to get cash, a money order or use a credit card to post the full amount of the bail for your loved one. So, if bail is set at $10,000, you post $10,000 with the jail or courthouse and they release your loved one. If you post a cash bail, the cash is returned to you if charges are dropped.
Surety Bond
The second type of bail bond that can be posted is a surety bond. This is the type of bail bond most people are familiar with. With this type of bail bond, you pay a Las Vegas bail bonds company 15 percent of the bail amount and they will then post bail on behalf of your loved one. So, if bail is set at $10,000, you pay a bail bonds company $1500 and they post bail. This is more affordable for most households. However, if charges are dropped, the amount you pay to a bail bonds company is not refundable.
Why Can’t You Get Your Money Back if You Use a Bail Bonds Company?
If you have posted bail with a bail bonds company, you may wonder why you don’t get your money back if the charges against you are dropped. When you use a bail bonds company, you are paying them a fee to post bail on your behalf. Regardless of whether the charges against you are dropped or not, they completed their service and bailed you out of jail. As such, you are not entitled to have the money refunded or returned to you under any circumstances when you use a bail bonds company.
Have you or a loved one been arrested? Are you looking to bail out of jail in Las Vegas, Nevada? If so, turn to Lightning Bail Bonds. We can help get you or a loved one out as quickly as possible. Contact us now to get started.
