Understanding Bail Collateral

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When a loved one faces an arrest, you must quickly learn the ins and outs of bail bonds. Like any other industry, bail bond services come with their own language. To navigate their services successfully, you must understand what some of these words mean. One concept that you often hear is bail collateral. What is bail collateral, how is it used, and is it returned? Read on for additional information.  

What Is Bail Collateral?

Bail collateral is an asset you offer in place of, or in addition to, the bail money required to secure the release of your loved one. It acts as insurance, ensuring they show up to court. Bail collateral comes in many different forms. Some of these include:

  • House
  • Vehicles
  • Jewelry
  • Stocks or Bonds

Collateral can be any asset with a value equal to or exceeding the amount needed for the bail. 

How Does Bail Collateral Work?

The exact process of how bail collateral works depends on whether you are using it to post a bond or using it in addition to the bail. You will post the collateral with the court when using it to post a bond.

You often do this by bringing your deed to your property, title to your vehicle, or your stocks and bond certificates to the courthouse. The court or magistrate will then take physical possession of this document and hold on to it until they resolve the case. Once the court settles the case, they will return your collateral to you.

The process is very similar if you have to post collateral with a company offering 24/7 bail bonds. The only difference is that you will provide the documentation to the bail bonds agency, and they will retain them. If you use jewelry, coins, or some other small asset as collateral, they may take possession of the asset until the court hears the case.

The bail bond agency will also return these assets to you upon the case's resolution. But the full amount of your collateral may not be returned if you have not paid the premium or the amount you owe for their services to the bail bond company. 

You risk losing your property if your loved one does not show up for their scheduled court date. The court or the bail bonds agency both have the right to keep and sell your property to recoup the required bail amount.

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