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Bail Bonds FAQ

Bail Bonds FAQ

What Montana Cosignors Need To Know About Bail


What is a Montana bail bond?

Central Montana Bail Bonds put together this bail bonds FAQ to help you get a better understanding of how the bail process works in Montana. If you or your loved one is in custody, a bail bond is the document that is presented to the court to secure the release of a defendant and ensure their appearance at all required court hearings.

How does a bail bond work?

Usually after the arrest of a defendant, a bail amount is set by the local court jurisdiction. At that time, a loved one (also known as a indemnitor or co-signer) makes arrangements with an agent to post the bail bond.

Paperwork is completed guaranteeing the appearance of the defendant in court, and a percentage of the bail amount is paid up front. You, as the indemnitor, guarantees that you will pay the full amount of the bond if the defendant fails to appear in court.

How does the collateral process work?

Some form of collateral may be required to secure the guarantee of the bail bond and that the person you signed for will appear in court. This can be anything of value such as cash, property, art or jewelry. All collateral is returned once the case against the defendant is completed.

How is bail determined?

A judge sets the defendant’s bail amount considering the following:

  • Nature and seriousness of the charges
  • The weight of the evidence
  • Defendant’s character and history
  • Is the defendant a flight risk
  • Depending on county, judges may use a bail schedule based on specific crime alleged to have been committed.

How much do bail bonds cost?

Only 10% of your full bail is required for release. You’re facing troubling times right now, so we’ll post the bail bond for you! Typically, a premium charge of 10% of the full bail amount is all that is required.

How can I pay for a bail bond?

  • Cash
  • Credit Card
  • Online payment via our secure servers
  • Paypal (depending on the agent and location)

Additional requirements may include:

  1. Physical Collateral
  2. The signing of a bail bond agreement (contract)
  3. Signature of a responsible indemnity or cosigner that will pay the full amount of the bail in the event that the defendant fails to appear in court

How long does it take to be released from jail?

Paperwork through a bail agent usually takes less than an hour to complete. Release times however, vary from county jail to county jail and could take anywhere between 30 minutes and 12 hours. Please note that you may have to wait for the defendant to be booked into the jail prior to issuing the bond.

What happens if a defendant fails to appear in court?

If a defendant fails to appear in court, the court issues a bench warrant for that person’s arrest and they are considered a fugitive. We then send our bail agents out to look for the fugitive (skip) as we are authorized by the court to arrest the individual in any state.