After receiving a call from a friend or family member and being informed that they were arrested, you may have decided to help them out by posting the bail that has been set. Since you typically cannot go directly to the jail and may not have the exact amount of money needed, you will most likely be directed to a bail bonding service. However, if this is your first time having to post a bond, you may be uncertain as to what will be required. If so, below are a couple of things that you will need to gather before going to the service.

1.  As Much Information as Possible about the Person You Bailing out of Jail

The first thing that you will need when bailing your loved one out of jail is as much information as possible about them. Not only do you need to know their name, address, and other vital statistics, but you will also need their inmate number, the reason why they were arrested, and the bail amount.

While your loved one may already have this information, you should always double-check it to make sure that what information they give you is correct to eliminate any delays in the process. You can contact the jail directly to do this.

2.  Proof of Your Ownership of the Property You Will Be Putting up as Collateral 

Another thing that you will need to bring with you is proof of ownership of any property that you plan on putting up as collateral. Since the value of the property will be determined by how much collateral you will need to put down for the bond rather than the full amount, you should contact the service before you head out to see how much will be required.

Once you have this information, you will then need to decide on what you want to put up, such as the deed to your home or title to your car, if the vehicle is fully paid for. You may be able to put up valuable jewelry or other items, but you should check with the service to make sure that they accept these forms of collateral.  

Once you have given the information to the bondsman, they should be able to give you a time frame in which your loved one is released so that you can go pick them up if that is what you are planning to do. If you still need more information about the process of posting bail or how doing so will affect you, speak with a bail bondsman near you for personalized assistance and guidance.