Bail Bonds in California: The Dos and Don’ts

At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, our skilled and professional team knows how challenging this time can be for you and your family. Whether it's you who is requiring a bail bond or a loved one, we sympathize with your situation and want to help you move past it. Simply put, you are not alone. Additionally, we are not here to judge or criticize anyone but only to offer our knowledge and guidance to those who may need support.

As such, we've put together this resource page to help inform you about bail bonds in California. Specifically, there are dos and don'ts to this process, and understanding them will make the experience smoother for all parties involved.

Dos of Bail Bonds:

Ask questions before hiring a bail bond agent, as you want to make sure you find the right fit for you and your needs. During your consultation, ask questions to get a better feel for the agent’s experience and expertise, including:

How long have you been licensed?
Can you briefly explain your history?
Where do you stand with the California Department of Insurance?
Do you put your client first?
What makes you stand out amongst other bail bondsmen?

Ask about payment plans and discounts. At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we offer military discounts, payment plans, and rarely require collateral. We'll also beat most advertised prices.

The price of a bail bond is determined by the location of the arrest and the specific charge. However, in most cases, the cost of the bond is between seven and ten percent of the bail amount. Regardless of who you decide to work with, make sure you're not only getting a fair rate but also can handle the payment plan.

Always tell the truth when applying for a bail bond. As we said, our agents never judge or criticize, so you have nothing to fear by telling the truth. To process the bond, our agents will need the full name of the defendant, the booking number, the charge or charges the defendant is facing, and the location of the jail. Then, the bail agent will bond the defendant out of jail. This entire process can take several hours, depending on how busy the jail is.

Ask about different payment methods to ensure the bail bond agency accepts the one that works best for you. We conveniently accept a variety of payment methods for our services, such as:

Credit Cards
Debit Cards
Cash
PayPal
Venmo
Zelle
Bank Transfers

Ask about the different types of bail bonds. While not imperative, as a good, professional agent will give you this information upfront and assist you in choosing the right option for your needs, it is your right to have all the facts. In California, there are quite a few different bail bonds, including:

Cash Bond—Bail is paid for in full with cash, a certified check, credit or debit card, or a money order
Surety Bond—A surety bond refers to when a family or friend contacts a bail bond agency to help get a defendant out of jail via a bond
Property Bond—Property is pledged to the court on behalf of the defendant, much like a lien, and held until the end of the case
Own Recognizance—When a judge allows the defendant to be released from jail without bail
Federal Immigration—Federal bonds are necessary when a defendant is detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service; these bonds have the highest bail bond fee percentage

Don’ts of bail bonds:

Don’t flea or leave the state while waiting for your trial date. Don’t miss your trial date for any reason. However, if there is some sort of emergency, contact your bail bond agent immediately.

If you’ve missed your court date and have not been in contact with the court for up to 14 days, you could be charged under California Penal Code 1320.5. Your original charges will be used to determine your consequences for fleeing while on bail.

If you flee bail on a misdemeanor charge, you could potentially face an additional misdemeanor, as well as face up to six months in jail and have to pay a $1,000 fine.

If you flee from a felony charge, the consequences are even more extreme. Not only could you face another felony charge, but you could also be sentenced to one or more of the following:

Up to one year in jail
Up to a year and a half, two years, or three years in prison
A fine of up to $10,000

Don’t get re-arrested while out of jail on bail. If you do, the courts will highly unlikely grant you bail a second time. If they do, your original bail bond agent may refuse to work with you again. Your smartest and safest bet is to obey the law while waiting for your trial date.

Do not be afraid to ask for help. Again, we know how stressful, confusing, and troubling this entire experience can be for you and your loved ones—but you don’t have to face this time alone. However, the only way to ensure you’re not alone is to reach out for help.

Contact 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds Today!

We want to make the bail process as smooth and easy for you as possible. Our agents will thoroughly answer all your questions and give you the necessary information to make you feel safe and knowledgeable—there will never be any surprises when you choose to work with us. Additionally, we always keep our client’s information private and secure. We provide discrete, confidential services and never share information with any outside agencies.

Don't forget: We offer fast and easy payment plans and military discounts. In many cases, collateral isn't even needed. We'll beat most advertised prices and can be reached 24/7—by phone or online—365 days a year.

If you still have questions or concerns or would like to speak to an agent about securing a bail bond, please contact us now. We look forward to hearing from you and offering our expertise during this time.

Testimonials

"I recently used the bail bonds services in Santa Ana, CA. Not only was my bond agent quick to fulfill my needs, but also very understanding and informative. I wasn’t judged or criticized—just simply helped out of a tough situation. My bond agent answered my questions and even made me feel comfortable and at ease, despite the grueling circumstances. I don’t plan on getting into any more legal trouble, but if I do, I will contact them again. This team is extremely professional, knowledgeable, and experienced. I highly recommend their services."

Testimonial

"Though I’m not proud to admit it, I recently got into some legal trouble in Santa Ana, CA, which resulted in my arrest. I was scared and confused at first, even unsure of what to do next. However, I contacted 24 hour bail bonds and I’m so happy I did! Not only did a professional and experienced bond agent help get me out of jail, but I was also given insightful information on what to expect moving forward. I was never judged for my actions, only given a second chance. I’m so thankful and cannot recommend their services enough. Thank you!"

Testimonial

"When you find yourself in trouble with the law, the last thing you want is to feel alone. After getting arrested in Santa Ana, I made the decision to call 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, and I’m so glad that I did! Not only did my bail agent get me out of jail fairly quickly, but I was also told exactly what to do next and what to expect with the process of moving on with my life. Thank you so much! This extremely professional, experienced, and judgment-free team made an awful situation significantly better. I don’t know what I would have done without them".

Testimonial

Contact Bail Bond Services in SoCal

Facing arrest can be quite devastating for you and your loved ones. We also understand how scary and uncertain circumstances can be when in jail, especially when you are unsure how soon you can leave jail. During times like these, you want a professional bail bonds agent to handle your matter so that you can be free in a short amount of time.

If you are looking for the best bail bonds service provider in Southern California, the 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds is the top choice for you. We have integrated online services with standard bail bond procedures to post bail on behalf of our clients. Our agents also understand the need for prompt action after you contact us.

Therefore, you can expect to receive timely bail bonds services in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Diego, and San Bernardino. You do not have to stress about the bail release process after an arrest. Instead, give us a call today at 800-930-8999, and we will offer you quality bail bond services and at a low cost.