When you are faced with a friend or family member having been arrested, you may have been asked to post bail to secure their release. For those who have never dealt with bail posting or bondsmen before, the whole process can seem confusing and intimidating. There are a few things that you may want to know before you start looking to post bail for anyone that you know who has been arrested.

Bondsmen Are Not Available Everywhere

There are a handful of states in the U.S. that don't permit private bail bondsmen. In those states, you'd have to secure the bail amount in full to get the individual released from jail. Make sure you know what your options are in the state that you're in so that you know if you have to pay it in full or if you can consider bail bonds.

If you have to pay it in full and you don't have the funds to do it, you may be able to secure a private loan that will allow you to pay it, but those loans can be difficult to obtain in some cases. You can also ask the court if you can use collateral, such as a property deed, in lieu of the full cash amount. This is sometimes referred to as a property bond.

Paying Cash Up Front Is Risky

It's best to work with a bail bondsman instead of paying the bail amount in full. Whenever it's possible for you to do so, take advantage of it. When you pay the bail amount in full, you're taking on the financial responsibility for the individual in question. You won't receive any of your cash back from the courts if he or she violates even one of the terms of their release agreement.

When you work with a bail bondsman, you pay a percentage of the bond up front. You don't get that money back either, but it's a smaller amount. That is the bondsman's fee for bailing your friend or family member out of jail. You'll typically also have to provide collateral that offsets the bail amount so that, if the bail is revoked or your loved one skips town, the bondsman can recover the money.

There Are Lots Of Collateral Options

If you have to post collateral to secure their bond release, you may be wondering what your options are. Many people use a property deed, but if you don't have one, what else could you do? Many bondsmen will accept anything of sufficient value, including jewelry, certificates of deposit, or any other asset that's easy to liquidate. The key is that your collateral must be valued at enough to secure the bond amount in the event that the bondsman must cash it in. Your bondsman can tell you how much you need to provide for collateral when you inquire about the bond.

Just Showing Up In Court Isn't Sufficient

Everyone knows that when you bail someone out of jail, they are legally required to show up for the court dates. What many people don't realize is that, along with taking on the responsibility to ensure that they show up to court, you're also taking responsibility for ensuring that they meet all of the other bail release conditions, too.

Sometimes that means checking in with the bondsman regularly. It may also mean attending a substance abuse program or staying within a certain area. If any of these terms are violated, that can be deemed as a revocable offense. You'll be out the money you put up to secure their release in that case. Make sure you understand all of the terms of the release agreement if you're signing for someone's bail bond.