Spouse Been Arrested and Charged With a Crime? 3 Things You'll Need to Provide to Your Bail Bond Agent

You never expected your spouse to get arrested, and charged with a crime. Now that they have been, you need to arrange bail as soon as possible. The last thing you want is to leave them languishing in jail until their trial. Unfortunately, depending on the crime, bail can be quite expensive. If you don't have the cash to bail your spouse out of jail, you're going to need the help of a bail bond agent. If you've never arranged bail before, you're probably worried about the procedure. Don't panic. Here are three things you'll need to bring with you to your appointment with the bail bond agent.

Proof of Identity

Before you apply for a bail bond for your spouse, you'll need to provide proof of identity. This can be anything such as your driver's license, or your birth certificate. If your driver's license has expired, be sure to bring at least one more piece of identification with you to your appointment. The bail bond paperwork will be filed with the courts, so your bail bond agent will need to verify who you are before they can process the bond.

Booking Information

When your spouse was arrested, they were booked into the local jail. During the booking process, they were provided with a booking number. During the arraignment and bail hearing, the charges were read and a bail amount was set. When you go to arrange your spouse's bail bond, you'll need to know the booking information, as well as the charges that were filed. If your spouse has not had an official bail hearing yet, you'll need to wait for that date before you can arrange for a bail bond.

Cash and Collateral

One of the benefits of a bail bond is that you don't have to come up with the entire amount in cash. To arrange a bail bond, you'll need a portion of the bail amount in cash and the rest in collateral. That collateral can be any real or personal property. In order to use real or personal property, you need to own it outright. That means that homes and cars cannot be financed.

When you go to your appointment, be sure to have titles, or other proof of ownership, for anything you plan on using as collateral. It's important to note that if your spouse does not honor the terms of their bail, you may lose any cash and collateral that you used to secure their bond.

If your spouse is in jail, and you need to arrange a bail bond, be sure to speak to a bail bond agent as soon as possible. The tips provided here will help you navigate the process. For more information, contact a business such as Best Bail Bonds.

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