Can I get a bail bond with no co-signer?

BY | June 6, 2023

In some situations, you may be able to get a bail bond with no co-signer. Therefore, you could secure your release faster than you think.

This article discusses what co-signers are and various methods to get out of jail if you don’t have one. Read on to learn more:

What is a co-signer for bail bonds?

If law enforcement arrests you, they may require you to post bail – a fixed sum of money you must pay before the presiding officer will release you from jail. Some people use cash to pay bail immediately, receiving it back when they attend court on their trial date. However, many don’t have the money required to pay upfront.

Bail bonds are a solution to this problem. You pay a small fee to the bail agent, and they pay the bond on your behalf. You then agree to show up to court on your trial date. When you do, law enforcement returns the money to the bail bondsman.

Sometimes, bail bondsmen post bail after you pay them their mandatory fee. However, they may request a co-signer in other situations.

A co-signer agrees to be responsible for the bail amount if you fail to appear in court. To fulfill this role, they may have to provide collateral, such as property or cash, to secure the bond.

Bail bondsmen perform various checks on co-signers to ensure they are suitable candidates. For example, they may request evidence that they own the home they intend to use as collateral if you fail to show up in court. As such, bail bonds requiring co-signers can take longer to process, increasing the length of time you have to spend in jail.

Fortunately, there are multiple bail bonds available that do not require a co-signer. Therefore, you (or a defendant you know) could be free in a few hours.

When can you get a bail bond with no co-signer?

In California, a defendant (the arrested person) can post bail without a co-signer (or indemnitor) under certain conditions. To quality, you must:-

Be considered a low “flight risk.” The bail bondsman must strongly believe you will not attempt to leave the state or country before your trial. Bail bonds without a co-signer are less likely if you are from another state or country or were just visiting California when officers arrested you.
Have little or no criminal history. Bail bondsmen will want evidence that you haven’t been involved with the law previously. Having a clean record might suggest you are trustworthy and that law enforcement made a mistake in arresting you. It also indicates you are unlikely to have committed a crime or skip your court appearance.
Be a homeowner. Having a property in the local area convinces the bail bondsmen that you have ties and links, helping to provide additional surety that you will not leave.
Have ties to the community. You should have connections in California, such as work, family, and friends. Bail bondsmen will consider these when deciding whether to grant you a bail bond without a co-signer

By considering these factors, the bail bondsman can determine your level of risk. If it’s low, then they may not require a co-signer. If it is high, then you will need to get someone trustworthy to underwrite your bail bond application.

The likelihood of being granted a bail bond without a co-signer is high if this is your first arrest and you have a home and job in the area. However, it is much lower if you are visiting from out of state, have a criminal record, or both.

Alternative options

If you do not qualify for a no co-signer bail bond or can’t find a co-signer immediately, various options are still available.

Arrange a co-signer after your release

If you cannot find a co-signer immediately, you can arrange with the bail bondsmen to find one after your release. Bail agencies sometimes agree to pay your bail if you get a co-signer within an agreed-upon time frame, say within 72 hours of leaving jail. This window lets you talk to family members and friends, informing them of the situation.

If you cannot find a co-signer within the time window, but the bail bondsman requires you to have one, you must return to jail. From here, you can explore other options to secure your release.

Remember, law enforcement may confiscate your cell phone after arrest and keep it as evidence. Therefore, you may not be able to contact friends and family from jail to arrange a co-signer.

Own recognizance

You may also qualify for a recognizance bond, depending on the nature of the charges against you. Here, a court judge will investigate your case and criminal history in a pre-trial hearing.

If they believe you do not represent a threat to the community or flight risk, they will ask you and your attorney to sign a recognizance bond, promising you will attend your court appearance. Once you complete the paperwork, the judge will release you based on your “own recognizance.”

Personal collateral

Another option is to use personal collateral as surety for the bail bondsman. Here, you agree that you will forfeit your property to the bail agency if you do not attend your court hearing.

Bail bondsmen usually recommend this approach if they think your risk is high. They may accept:-

Cars or other vehicles
Housing or property you own
Other valuable assets
Credit card payments

Please note that proving you have personal collateral takes time. Therefore, it may take longer to secure your release from jail.

Don’t stay in jail any longer than necessary

With no co-signer bail bonds, you can secure your release from jail rapidly. Co-signer options can slow the process, but we can grant you up to 72 hours to find a suitable party to provide surety.

For more information, contact 24-Hour Online Bail Bonds to speak with English and Spanish bondmen!

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Contact Bail Bond Services in SoCal

Facing arrest can be quite devastating for you and your loved ones. We also understand how scary and uncertain circumstances can be when in jail, especially when you are unsure how soon you can leave jail. During times like these, you want a professional bail bonds agent to handle your matter so that you can be free in a short amount of time.

If you are looking for the best bail bonds service provider in Southern California, the 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds is the top choice for you. We have integrated online services with standard bail bond procedures to post bail on behalf of our clients. Our agents also understand the need for prompt action after you contact us.

Therefore, you can expect to receive timely bail bonds services in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Diego, and San Bernardino. You do not have to stress about the bail release process after an arrest. Instead, give us a call today at 800-930-8999, and we will offer you quality bail bond services and at a low cost.