The aftermath of being arrested, for whatever reason, is a complicated and daunting experience. One of the essential aspects of the legal system in such cases is the bail bonds system. It helps an individual get released from jail while awaiting a criminal trial if they do not have enough money to pay the bail amount in full. This system comes with different types of bail bonds. Keep reading to understand the five most common types of bail bonds.

Cash Bail Bonds

This type of bail bond is simple. It is a cash bail that guarantees the defendant’s appearance at their court date. The full bail amount is deposited with the court in cash or cashier’s check. Once the case is over and the defendant has appeared in court, the cash bail is returned minus any administrative fees or fines.

Surety Bail Bonds

Surety bonds are one of the most common types of bail bonds. Here, a third party, the bondsman, guarantees the bail amount. If the defendant doesn’t appear in court, the bondsman will be responsible for paying the bail amount. Typically, the defendant pays the bail bondsman a percentage of the bail upfront. The disadvantage of surety bonds is that you risk forfeiting collateral if the defendant fails to appear.

Property Bond

When there is no possibility of paying cash, or you wish to avoid hiring a bondsman’s services, you can post a property bond using real estate as collateral. In this case, the court processes are more complicated, and a hearing to determine whether the property offered as collateral is sufficient to cover the bail amount. A property bond also comes with risks since if the defendant fails to appear in court; the court will acquire the title to the collateralized property.

Federal Bail Bonds

Federal bail bonds apply when a defendant is accused of a federal crime. They work differently from state bail bonds and are considered riskier to write. A federal bond requires a cash deposit of the entire bail amount to the court or a percentage. It would be best to hire a bondsman as the bail amount in these cases is usually high.

Immigration Bail Bonds

Immigration bonds are similar to surety bonds since they involve a third party. These bonds enable the arrested individual to await their immigration court hearing without being detained in jail. The bail amount in such cases is usually high since the defendant needs to guarantee their future appearance in court by posting personal property or cash.

For more info, contact a local company like U.S. Bonding Co.