When you bail someone out of jail, you become that person’s co-signer or indemnitor. This means you assume financial and legal responsibility for the defendant. Your duties as an indemnitor take effect the moment you sign a bail agreement in behalf of your defendant. These duties and responsibilities will cease when the trial is over. Before you sign up, here’s what it means to be an indmenitor .
Ensuring the defendant’s court appearance
This is the most important duty that you have when you sign up as an indemnitor. You have to make sure that the defendant will be present in court at the appointed court hearings. Make it your business to know all the court dates your defendant is required to show up. You can talk to the defendant’s lawyer and also coordinate your Jefferson County bail bondsman. If you need to escort your defendant to the courthouse, do so. If the defendant has an emergency and cannot appear for a court date, you have to assist by informing the defendant’s lawyer and Jefferson bail bondsman.
Keeping tabs and tracking down the defendant
You should also know where the defendant is at all times, especially when the defendant is a high flight risk. This could mean calling up the defendant at a scheduled time at the workplace or paying for the fees for the GPS monitoring system. Should the defendant skip bail or fail to show up in court, you will be responsible for tracking down the whereabouts of the defendant. You shoulder all the fees that the 24-hour bail bonds company will incur for tracking down the defendant. A warrant will be issued for the defendant, turning him/her into a fugitive. The bonding company may also run a skip trace and hire a bounty hunter to locate the fugitive and bring him/her back to court.
Pay the total cost of Jefferson County Bail bonds
You will be the one to pay for the overall cost of the bail bonds in Jefferson County for your defendant. Initially, you will be paying for the 10 percent bail bonds premium, depending on how much the court has set bail. This is a non-refundable bail bond service fee that you will pay to the local bondsman. Payment shall continue until the entire premium is settled even after the case is concluded.
In the event that the defendant fails to appear in court, you as the indemnitor will be responsible for paying the full amount of bail set by the court. Any collateral that you used to secure express bail bonds will be forfeited. This means you could lose your house, car, jewelry, or other precious items.
However, if the defendant keeps with the court dates and continues to be a model citizen, you will get back your collateral. Your responsibilities as an indemnitor will end once the defendant is released, the court dismissed the case, or the bond is exonerated/discharged. Also note that release will take a while for whatever collateral you signed up for Jefferson bail bonds. Take this into consideration before you sign your valuables up for collateral.
Being an indemnitor is a serious undertaking. PDQ Bail Bonds recommend that you know the person well you are co-signing for. We will do whatever it takes to give you assistance to help your defendant get out of jail. If you have questions about your duties and responsibilities as an indemnitor, our knowledgeable staff is always here to help you. Our office is open 24/7, and our licensed Jefferson bail bondsman is ready to assist you. Don’t decide on your own. Contact us now at our bail hotline 303-778-0026. Take advantage of our 40 years’ experience so that you can make an informed decision for your bail bond needs.
About Author
Ingrid Riddle is a writer who focuses on bridging the gap between the digital and physical world. She loves helping others understand how to use technology to make their lives easier, more efficient and more enjoyable. Ingrid has a degree in Computer Science and a knack for making complex tech topics accessible to a broader audience. She has been featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post, and several other tech publications. She currently works at a tech education startup and lives in Georgia. In her free time, Ingrid enjoys traveling, playing board games, and going for long walks.