Black Dog Bail Bonds Offers:
- Regular Follow up and Check-in Calendar
- Court Date Reminders
- Guidance for upcoming appointments, court dates, etc.
- Contacts and resources for probation requirements
What is the first step when I get the call from my loved one in jail?
- Call us and we will walk you through the process
- Print or fax forms and follow the instructions
- Complete a "Quick Quote" and an agent will contact you within 2 hours
How long does it take to get someone out on bail?
The paperwork takes about 15-30 minutes.
The release can depend on the jail. Local police can take about 1 hour, Central Phoenix can take 3-12 hours.
The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can move forward in getting the release process in motion.
Where do I meet you?
We come to you and meet you at the jail, or a location of your choice. We provide specific instructions and directions. We have a female bond agent to provide for a safe and secure experience for women posting bond. We also speak Spanish!
What do I have to pay and what do I get back?
A bail bond works like an insurance policy. The policy is an agreement between the defendant, the courts, and bail bond company that posts the bond. The courts specify the amount of bail, the defendant agrees to purchase a bail bond (usually 10% of the bail amount), and agrees to meet all of the courts requirements. In addition, the bail bond company may set additional requirements that the defendant must adhere to.
Here is how the premium works. If, for example, the bail amount is $10,000 then the premium amount would be $1,000. If the bail amount is $25,000, then the premium amount would be $2,500.00 and so on. The bail amount is set by the courts. It's usually based on a pre-determined value based on the offense. The schedule for Arizona is determined and controlled by the Department of Insurance.
The premium is not returned because this is the fee for the service of providing the insurance policy (much like the premium you pay for your car insurance).
Collateral is an item that has significant resale value that is provided as back-up if the defendant does not follow through on the terms of the agreement with the bond agent. For example, just like in the example above for car insurance, the premium pays only for the specific coverages on the policy. If you are in an accident and the coverage are not sufficient, you are responsible for the remainder of the cost of the damages. The policy for a bail bond states that the defendant must appear at court dates, keep in contact with the bail bond agent, remain in the state, etc. If this agreement is violated, the bail is forfeited and the entire bond must be paid to the court. If you paid the premium of $1000 for a $10,000 bond, the additional $9,000 must be paid to the court. The bond agent will liquidate collateral in order to pay the court.
What are my payment options for the premium?
Option 1
Pay the entire 10% premium and provide collateral if required. Collateral is usually required on large bond amounts.
Option 2
Pay 50%, but under 100% and finance the balance for 90 - 120 days interest free, collateral will still be required.
Option 3
Pay 25% but under 50% and finance the balance for 90 - 120 days with interest charges, collateral will still be required.
Option 4
Custom payment option tailored to you. Some restrictions apply.
What types of payment do you take for the premium?
We accept visa, MasterCard and American express. In addition, we accept cash or money order with validated funds. Western Union is accepted as guaranteed funds as well.
What about collateral, what is good collateral?
Collateral must be something you own that has significant RESALE value.
A house with a mortgage is considered good collateral if you have equity in your home. This is the only time that something you do not own OUTRIGHT is considered good collateral. Usually, if you are still making payments on an item (like a car, or something paid for on credit) would not be considered acceptable collateral.
You may keep possession of major collateral items as long as the Bail Agent holds the title. (This includes cars, boats, houses, etc)
When do I get my collateral back?
When the court case is complete, usually in one of the following ways:
- The charges are dropped.
- The person is found innocent at trial or the person is sentenced at trial.
Collateral will be returned if there is no outstanding balance due on the premium.
The Bail Bond Agent for Black Dog (Stacie Rosenthal) has a legal responsibility to safeguard the collateral in their possession.
What happens if the person does not appear at a court date?
A bench warrant will be issued and the person will be considered a fugitive. The Bail Agent will be searching for the individual as well as any local authority.
It is your responsibility and in your best interest to convince the person to surrender themselves to the Bail Bond Agent’s custody. Normally, if the fugitive is returned before actual remittance to the state, you can have your collateral returned.
If the Bail Agent cannot locate the fugitive, legal action will proceed to seize and/or liquidate collateral. If there is an excess of the bail amount, this portion of the collateral liquidation will be returned.
