In a high-tech world, we often want things at our fingertips and that includes access to bail bonds online. We are often asked if bail bonds are available online so we can avoid calling a bail bondsman directly or working through the jail.
Consumers expect a convenient process and with everything available online or via text, we feel bail bonds could benefit from similar processes and technology. The bail bond industry is typically behind on new processes, and you will notice that most states have very few options on bailing someone out of jail online, but don’t be discouraged – there are a few options, and online bail bondsmen are starting to incorporate more online interactive features to provide you more information.
Bail Someone Out of Jail Online
A few providers in California and New York are trying to make the process easier by allowing you to go through an online form to process a bail bond, but even then there will likely be some interaction with the bondsman that can’t be handled online.
CHAT WITH A LAWYER
Family Bail Bonds, for example, allows you to submit a form online to bail someone out, then you fill out some documents and a payment authorization form, and the bondsman will process the rest and release the jailed person. They are also available by phone in case you have any questions, but most of the process can be handled via fax and email forms.
Post Bail Online
The question remains, can you bail someone out of jail online? The challenge here is that most states don’t have the full process in place to bail someone out online. A lot of bail bondsmen allow you to make payments online which is very helpful and most of them have an online form you can fill out which will get the process started. You can also lookup jailed inmates online to help provide the necessary details to the bondsman. However, the full bailout process online is not in place in most states.
One of the primary reasons is the need for quick action for timely jail release which requires some back and forth and discussion. Secondly, the bail industry is not very tech-savvy so online development to improve the bail process is slow. A few states do have a full online bail process, which allows you to post bail online in New York and California.
You will want to have the following information ready to submit online:
- Defendant name
- Bond amount
In order to finalize the bailout online and pay the premium (10%), you will need to submit the following information:
- Valid ID such as a drivers license
- Bank account
- Proof of income
Online Bail Bondsman
In order to process bail bonds the fastest way possible, we recommend contacting a bail bondsman over the phone. This allows you to interact with them and answer any questions you may have, as well as provide the needed information for a quick release.
Bondsmen have an online presence and you should review their website for information on how they go about bailing someone out of jail. You can find the fees they charge online and even contact them via their form. Many online bondsmen will have an inmate lookup database that can help you find more information about the arrested person. You can provide this information to the bail bond company and help speed up the process.
Our Recommendation for Online Bail Bonds Options
If you are not in an urgent situation to bail someone out, you can use online bail bond forms to contact nearby bondsmen. Almost all websites have a contact form to get in touch. If you live in New York or California, we recommend using Family Bail Bonds or Better Bail to obtain a bail bond online.
Most other states and urgent situations warrant a quick call to a nearby bail bonds agent so there are no delays with the process. You typically won’t have to go to the bail bonds office and most items can still be taken care of online. A lot of people bail someone out in a state where they don’t live so it’s important for most bail agents to have an online process in place. Unfortunately, most of the online methods are not 100% automatic so you will still need to interact with the agent. It normally only takes 10-30 minutes to finalize a bail bond so it’s not an enormous hassle considering the weight of the situation.To familiarize yourself with bail bonds and related information, please browse through the frequently asked questions below.
How much does bail cost for different crimes?
When you post bail, what happens to the money?
A bounty hunter is hired by a bail bondsman to locate and arrest a person who does not show to court as agreed in their bail bond agreement. Bounty hunters are sometimes referred to as bail recovery agents.
Is a bail bondsman the same as a bounty hunter?
When does a bounty hunter come after me?
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