Figuring out How Bail Bonds Work in Florida

When it comes to understanding how bail bonds work in Florida, the defendant, friend or family member posting bond will want to have that information available when facing arrest. In fact, a little research into how bail bonds Florida agents work can save them time and effort in finding the right one to meet their needs. While accessing the services of a bail bonds company is probably the last thing on anyone’s mind, it does pay to know that there are differences in terms of service and reputation that should factor in your decision to use a particular company.

However, it also must be stated that bail bond companies work under the laws, rules and regulations set by the state of Florida, so there is often little to no wiggle room when it comes to their policies.

The Bail Bonds System in Florida

Once a person has been arrested and taken to jail, the processing period will last from 1 to 3 hours. Once that is completed, they will have the option to either stay in jail or be bailed out on bond. As with most states, the bail bond process is very similar. A person may pay the bond with a bail bond agent or pay the full amount of the bail in cash. There may be some jails that will accept credit cards, but the bail bond agency can start to work on the amount as soon as it is known even before the booking process is complete in some cases.

A cash bond will be used to pay all the court fees as dictated by the statutes of Florida. Any refund will not be given out until all fees have been paid. Whatever refund occurs will be mailed by the court clerk within a sixty day period after the case has been closed.

Florida Bail Bonds Charges & Fees

When you post a bond with a Florida-based agent, you will be charged a percentage or premium of the total amount. The fees of the bail bond are set by the state as they are in most states, but in Florida any bond that is $1,000 or less will cost $100 while any amount above that will be 10% of the total bond. So, for a $500 bond, that will cost you $100. But for a $2,000 bond, that will cost $200 and so forth depending on the amount.

Multiple bonds mean multiple payments as in one per bond that has been issued. For example, if you have three bonds of less than $1,000 each, then you will need to pay $300. For each bond that is more than $1,000 then you will need to pay 10% of the total amount for the bond. Multiple bonds are fairly common in Florida, which means that those who are arrested on multiple counts will need to be prepared to pay on each bond.

Bail bonds Florida residents will need to get them out of jail before their court date will require contacting a local, reputable bail bond agent. For more information about how bail bonds work in Florida, any person needing bail in Daytona, Miami, Bradenton, Pinellas or Dade County or other area should consult the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the Florida Division of Consumer Services webpage for more information.

FLORIDA BAIL LAWS