What If I Can Pay My Own Bail?

One of the most common questions asked for a bail bondsman, “Do I need to get a bail bond, even if I have the money to pay for my bail?”

There are a several things to consider when answering this question. First thing to keep in mind is that your bail might be considerably higher than what you can afford. (But you’re not alone, in fact, Fifty-seven percent of Americans don’t have enough cash to cover a $500 unexpected expense.) If this is your situation, it’s always best to speak with someone in the business to get advice.

That being said, even if you do have the funds to post your own bail, it might not be the best idea. Your two choices are

• Put down a modest amount for a bail bond, insuring that you keep a cash reserve in the bank for when you’ll need it,

or you could

• Possibly drain your account to an uncomfortable level, bailing yourself out.

There’s a strong possibility that you’ll have other financial needs once you’re out and will need to use your hard earned money to take care of those things.