Did a loved one recently get arrested? It's an unfortunate time, and you're probably wondering how you can help make the situation better. If you've talked to your loved one who is incarcerated and they are getting ready to post bail, you may want to meet with a bail bondsman to set up an appointment and prepare for the bond hearing. Here are some things you need to have on hand when you go in. 

Case and Attorney Information 

When you go to speak with the bail bond agent, be sure that you have all of the defendant's personal information on hand. This includes:

• A copy of their birth certificate and other personal information
• Their attorney's name and contact information
• Court documentation 
• What the defendant is being charged for

Making sure that you have the attorney contact information is important so that the bail bonds company can communicate effectively with counsel. This will make the entire process easier and simplify the defendant's actual release once the judge grants bail. 

A Bond Down Payment

When the defendant is arraigned before a judge or magistrate, they will be told what their bond amount will be. This is the amount used to secure their return to appear back in court at their next hearing. Before meeting with a bond company, it's important to make sure you know the exact amount of the bond being posted. This will give you a general idea as to how much cash you'll need to secure the bond. Typically, bond companies require at least 10 to 15% of the amount of the bail as a down payment. There may also be additional fees you'll have to pay upfront. Remember that you will only get the down payment back when the defendant fulfills the entire court agreement. 

Collateral 

In order to post bail for your loved one, you may be asked to secure some form of collateral for the bond. This is a type of insurance to guarantee that the bond amount can be liquidated should the defendant fail to appear in court. In order to secure the interest of the bond, you can offer things like:

• Valuable jewelry
• Vehicles and boats
• Business or residential property 

You will get these items back as long as the defendant meets the terms of the bail bond. Be sure that you trust that the defendant will fulfill the bond agreement, otherwise you are out the collateral. 

Going through a legal event can be a challenging time for not only the defendant but also their loved ones. Helping out your loved one is important — just be sure you have all of the information you need before visiting a bail bondsman. This will ensure that you're prepared and that the process goes smoothly.