BAIL BONDS IN LAS VEGAS - INFORMATION

When that phone call comes, that someone is in jail in Las Vegas, Nevada or anywhere else in the country, and they need a bail bond, few people know what to do.

Maybe you found out you have a warrant, or you've used a bail bonds company in Las Vegas before, but didn't quite understand the process.

You're in the right place, when you're done here you'll have all the information about bail bonds in Las Vegas that you need to make a decision.

If you prefer a faster response, you can call us 24 hours a day at 702.386.9960

Let's get started....

WHAT IS A BAIL BOND?

The Simple Answer:
In Las Vegas, Nevada, and most of the country, when you get a bail bond you are guaranteeing perfect attendance for all court matters. Guilty, not guilty doesn't matter, you're just saying the person bailed, the "defendant", will go to all their court dates.

The Full Answer:
Two options; the first is surety bail, here in Las Vegas, you would use a bail bonds company.

• The bail bonds company would put up a bail bond, which is like a check, and as long as the defendant (the person being bailed) appears, will not be cashed.
  
• The bail company and the indemnitor (the cosigner) are guaranteeing the defendants presence before the judge.
  
• Bail Bonds in Las Vegas are a little different from the rest of the country, typically the fee in other states is 10%, we have lower bails in Las Vegas, the fee, set by the State of Nevada's Division of Insurance is 15% of the bail bond. The bail bonds company makes $150 for every $1,000 of the bail bond.
  
• The defendant has the obligation to do everything the judge asks, when he does and finishes up his business, the bond is "exonerated", or declared null and void, it is worthless, the matter between the bail bonds company and you is over.
  
• If a defendant misses a court date, a warrant will be issued. In Las Vegas, and all of Nevada the bail company has 6 months to quash (eliminate) the warrant, get a new court date, or if need be, physically get the defendant before the judge.
  
• If the bail bonds company cannot produce the defendant to the judge's satisfaction, the court will demand the face amount of the bail bond from the bail company who will get the money from the indemnitor to pay the court.

Or you could post cash bail.

• The indemnitor can pay the total bail amount to the court, and when the defendant is finished with all their obligations to the court, you will get that money back, less fees, in about 90 days. Some of the city jails in Las Vegas will keep cash bail to pay fines, make sure you ask.
  
• The advantages to cash bail are that the only money you're out are the fees the court charges.
  
• The disadvantages are that while the court holds the money for, depending on the charge, a lengthy period of time, it gains no interest, and if you borrowed the money, like say put it on a credit card, the fees or interest keep accumulating, and if the person you bailed misses their court date, the money you put up is gone.
  

COLLATERAL? WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

The Simple Answer:
Usually not needed, but on some occasions, collateral is security you put up that can be liquidated, or cashed in, if the defendant does not show up and the bail company has to pay the court the amount of the bail bond.

The Full Answer:

• If the defendant were not to show up in court, the bail company has 6 months to get the defendant "right with the system" or they have to pay the face value of the bond. That could get expensive pretty quick, so bail companies will sometimes take collateral to secure a defendant's presence in court.
  
• Suppose someone doesn't show in court and the bail company can't find them, in 6 months the bail company will liquidate any collateral in order to pay the courts the face value of the bond.
  
• On the other hand, once a defendant's business with the court is over and the bail bond is exonerated, all collateral is 100% refundable. Cash, Real Estate, Stocks & Bonds, Life Insurance Policies and vehicles are all acceptable forms of collateral.

DO I GET MY MONEY BACK?

Answer:

• In Las Vegas, and the rest of Nevada, the bail bonds company charges 15%, that's how the bail company makes it's money, that fee is non-refundable.
  
• If you posted cash bail, that is, you did not use a bail bondsmen, you went directly to the jail and posted the full amount of the bail, you WILL get that money back about 90 days after the person you bailed clears everything up with the court.
  
• You may have posted cash as collateral with the bail bonds, assuming the person you bailed clears everything up, you will get that money back.