Creative Ways to Save When Posting a Loved One's Bail

Posting bail for a loved one and getting them released from prison comes with many expenses, not the least of which is a bail bond's cost. Should you ever have to post bail for someone, here are creative ways to keep the cost of a bond and other ancillary expenses as low as possible.

Contact a Defense Attorney

Your loved one will undoubtedly want a defense attorney to represent them in court, and they may choose to hire one or use a state-appointed public defender. Whichever option they elect, get in touch with their defense attorney as quickly as possible.

A defense attorney may be able to petition the court and have your loved one's bail amount reduced. If they are successful, the reduction can significantly lower the cost of a bail bond — especially if the reduced bail amount is lowered by thousands of dollars.

Bail bonds are typically priced as a percentage of the set bail amount. In fact, some states even mandate maximum allowed fees as a percent of the bail amount. For example, bail bonds in North Dakota can't exceed $100 or 10 percent of the bail amount (whichever is more).

Thus, any reduction in the required bail amount will create an analogous reduction in the bail bond price. If the bail amount is reduced by 10 percent, the bond price likely will be reduced by 10 percent as well. That could equate to hundreds or thousands of dollars saved, depending on the bail amount. It might even be enough savings to pay for the defense attorney.

Ask About Their 24 Hour Services

One way to increase the convenience of the bail bonds purchase process is if your bail bonds company provides 24/7 service. With flexible and forgiving hours, you can carefully plan your visit to the bail bonds company so that you can save time and money.

For example, you can schedule a red-eye flight or mid-week flight that will be significantly less expensive than a hasty last-minute flight. Additionally, a bail bonds company that offers 24/7 service can be reached at any time of day when you receive the funds to purchase the bail bond.

You can also save time since you will be able to go straight to the bail bonds company at any time of day when they offer 24/7 services. You won't have to worry about waiting until the next business day or getting work off once you have secured the finances and collateral to purchase a bail bond for your loved one.

This simple, but effective, way to save money can make a huge difference in your overall costs.

Pay With a Cashback Card

Most bail bond providers accept debit cards, and some may also accept credit cards. Whether you use a debit or credit card, pay for the bond with a card that offers cashback.

Using a cashback card won't reduce the actual amount you pay for a bail bond, but it reduces how much you ultimately pay out of pocket. Any amount you get back is helpful, and the amount can be sizeable.

For instance, assume you pay for a bond with a cashback card that returns 1.5 percent on all purchases. If a bond costs $5,000, the cashback that you'd receive would be $75. A bail bond that costs $20,000 will only result in more cashback — as much as $300 if you receive 1.5 percent back through a card.

Receiving $75 or $300 back isn't going to drastically change your financial situation, but every little amount you get back can help during what's often a time of financial stress. You may be able to get more back if you find a card that has a higher introductory cashback rate.



If you need a bail bond in Minnesota or North Dakota, contact the professionals at Absolute Bail Bonds.