A surety bond, commonly known as a bail bond, is a contract between a state licensed bail agent and the signer or cosigners and guaranteeing that the defendant will appear for scheduled court appearances. In the event of failure to appear, sometimes called a "skip", the signers of the bail contract agree to pay the Bail Agency the full amount of the bond.

If you are considering bailing someone out of jail, it is important that you know how the process works and understand your responsibilities. We can answer your specific questions or provide more bail bond information 24 hours a day. Please call us at 732 750-9400 or toll free  1-866-605-2245

The purpose of the bail system is to guarantee the appearance of a criminal defendant in court. The system was imported to the U.S. from England in Colonial times and has origins dating back to medieval times. Statistically, the bail system works well and costs taxpayers nothing as bail agents are underwritten privately.

In order to approve a bond, information will be collected by the bail agent through an interview. Some bondsmen require collateral in order to secure the full amount of the bond. At this company, we work with clients to create a bail contract where collateral is not necessary if possible. The process takes just a few minutes.

When someone is arrested, the defendant, a friend, or relative will contact a bail bond company. During the free phone consultation, most companies will collect basic information about your situation in order to determine the risk involved in the bond and begin the approval process. The types of questions asked are typically what is the nature of the charges, when was the defendant arrested, how long have you known the defendant, do you and the defendant work, are you home owners, how long have you been with your current employer, etc.

If you choose to purchase a bail bond, basic documents will be processed and need to be signed. These include a bond application, Indemnity Agreement, and receipt. With our bail company the paperwork can be processed by e-mail and fax in a few minutes or a licensed agent can meet the client at their location or at the jail.

After the paperwork is finalized, a licensed agent will file, or "post", the bond with the Agency which will result in the release of the defendant. Again, jail facilities vary in the amount of time to process the bond and release the detainee. From start to finish, this bail agency will generally complete the paperwork and posting process in 1-2 hours. For this service, the customer is charged a bail bond fee (generally 10% of the full bail amount, which is mandated by state law).Payment Plans are available to qualified cosigners*

If the defendant is not bailed out or otherwise released, he or she will usually remain in custody until arraignment and potentially until the matter has been resolved in court. The benefit of being released on bail is that the defendant will have time to obtain qualified legal services and present the case in a complete manner.

In most states, including New Jersey, the cost of a bail bond is set by law and rates are not negotiable. The new Jersey bail bond fee is 10% of the bail. There are no taxes for a bond. For example, if the bail is set at $20,000, which is average in New Jersey, then the fee charged is $2000.