If someone you care for has been arrested in Mission Viejo, we can help. Our company has agents standing by at all times, day or night, weekends and holidays included.  We can help with bail bonds for state charges, bail bonds for federal charges, bail bonds for misdemeanor charges, and bail bonds for felonies.

If you’ve never been asked to help arrange bail bonds before, you likely don’t know where to begin. Although the process isn’t complicated, it does involve a lot of paperwork, planning, and communication with the jail. Working with an experienced bail bonds company will ensure your loved one gets out of jail as fast as possible. Remember, this isn’t a situation you need to navigate on your own. When you call our office, we’ll help you understand how the arrest, booking and bail bonds process works. If you’re ready to move forward, we can help you get the bail bonds process started.

Regardless as to whether you need help with bail bonds for assault, DUI charges, felony DUI, domestic violence, fraud, larceny, or white collar crimes, we can help.  Call our office today to learn why we’re the #1-ranked bail bonds company in the region.

What Happens After You Get Arrested in Mission Viejo?

When someone is arrested in Mission Viejo, they’ll be placed in handcuffs and the officer will inform them of their Miranda Rights. The defendant will be told that they have the right to remain silent, and if they waive their right to remain silent, that anything they say can and will be used against them in a court of law. The defendant will also be informed that they have a right to talk to an attorney, and if they can’t afford an attorney, one will be appointed to them.

After the defendant has been informed of their Miranda Rights, they’ll be placed in the back of the squad car and transported to the local jail. When they arrive at the jail, they’ll undergo an intake interview. The jailer will ask them to provide basic information, such as their full name, date of birth, address, their social security number, and the type of work they do.  The defendant will also be photographed and they’ll have their fingerprints taken.

The next step in the booking process involves being checked for warrants. To do this, the jail sends an electronic copy of their fingerprints to the Department of Justice in Washington DC. As you can imagine, the DOJ receives thousands of sets of fingerprints, every hour, 24-hours a day, from jails all across the country. Consequently, it often takes them several hours to process the warrant check results.  The jail will not allow anyone to post bail bonds until their warrant check results come back.

If you have a friend or loved one who has just been arrested and they’re in the process of being transported to the jail, and you talk with a bondsman who tells you they can post your loved one’s bail bonds immediately, that person is not being truthful. Or, if they tell you that they can expedite your loved one’s bail bonds for an additional fee, they are lying to you. The booking process generally takes between 4-7 hours, depending on how busy the jail is. There is no way to speed the process up or to make it go faster.

Should you wait to start the bail bonds process until after the warrant check comes back? No. You’ll want to speak with a bondsman as quickly as possible. This will ensure that all of your documents are signed, the bail bonds premium is paid, and that the bail bond paperwork is complete and ready to go. This will ensure the bondsman is prepared to post the bond the second the jail says it’s ready to receive one. 

Our company has decades of experience in helping people like you get through situations just like this. We have a stellar reputation with all of the county’s jails, including the Mission Viejo Jail, the Orange County Jail, and the Theo Lacy Jail, among others. Call us today to learn why we’re the #1 recommended bail bonds company in the region.

Regardless as to whether you need help at 2pm on a Monday or 4am on New Year’s Day, our agents are here to help.

What is a Bail Bond?

Simply stated, a bail bond is a promise. It’s a piece of paper that’s posted with the jail that states that if the defendant is released from custody pending trial, that they’ll return to court to finish their case. They also promise that if the defendant flees, skips bail, and leaves town in hopes of evading prosecution, that their full bail amount will need to be paid to the court as a penalty.

If someone does skip bail, does the responsibility to pay fall to the bail bonds company? Yes and no. The bail bonds company will have a set amount of time to pay the penalty, however, the responsibility to pay ultimately falls to the cosigner. This is why you should never post bail bonds for someone you barely know, someone who you just met, or someone you haven’t talked to in months or years.

The cost to purchase bail bonds is generally 10%, however, if you’re working with a criminal defense attorney, you may qualify for an 8% rate. For example, if bail has been set at $20,000, the cost for a bond would be $2,000. However, if you’ve retained a lawyer, your cost would be 8%, or $1,600.

How Do Bail Bonds Work?

Once a person is arrested in Orange County, their friends, family members, neighbors, or professional colleagues can call a bail bond company. Although the defendant also can reach out to the bail bond company, it is very difficult for a person to qualify to cosign for their own bail bonds. Most defendants find that if they need to get out of jail, it’s much, much faster to have a friend or loved one contact a bondsman on their behalf.

When you contact a bondsman, they’ll start by asking you several questions. The purpose of this interview is to gauge how risky (or not risky) the bond is—namely, the bondsman will want to determine how likely it is that a defendant will go to court. If the defendant lives locally, has a stable job, has family in the area, and has never been arrested before, this would be a “low risk” bond. On the other hand, if the defendant splits their time between California and Florida, is couch surfing, doesn’t have a job, and isn’t in touch with their family, this would be a “high risk” bond.

Common bail bonds interview questions include the following:

• How long have you known the defendant?
• How well do you know the defendant?
• How long have they lived in the area?
• Do you know what type of work they do?
• Do they have a prior history of arrest, and if yes, do they have any other open cases?
• Are they currently out on bond, and if yes, what company did you use before?
• Are you willing to pay the bail bonds fee and take full legal responsibility that your friend or loved one will go to court and finish their case?

How much will a bond cost?

As we’ve noted, the most common cost to purchase bail bonds is 10% of the total bail amount. Our company accepts a wide variety of payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, cash, cashier’s checks, direct bank deposit (into our corporate checking account). In some instances, we may be able to accept a personal check.   We also offer flexible bail bonds payment plans to those who qualify. Typically, to qualify for a payment plan, you’ll need to have good credit and a stable work history.  For more information about how bail bonds payment plans work or to learn more about whether you’ll qualify, call our office today to speak with an agent.

Will I Need to Post Collateral? 

When people call our office they often ask if they’ll have to put their car or home up as collateral, but most of our clients find they’re eligible for no collateral bail bonds. In this case, your signature is assurance enough that the defendant will go to court. Will everyone qualify for no collateral bail bonds? No. If bail has been set at over $150,000, or if the defendant has been charged with a federal crime (and you contact us about posting federal bail bonds), collateral will be needed.

Can I Use My Car as Collateral on $200,000 Bail Bonds?

The quick answer to this question is no. If collateral is needed, the value of the collateral you post will need to be equal to, or exceed the defendant's bail amount. If bail has been set at $200,000, it’s very likely that your car is not worth $200,000. In this instance, most of our clients find that property collateral is the best way to secure a bond. When you meet with the bondsman, you’ll not only need to complete the bail bonds contact, you’ll also need to sign a deed of trust (DOT). This will allow our company to put a lien against your property.

Once the defendant’s court case is over, and the bail bonds premium has been paid off, the lien on your property will be released.

What Happens With My Collateral After I Post It?

• Doesn't Appear: If the defendant skips bail, the court will forfeit their bond and a bench warrant will be issued for their immediate arrest. The bondsman will then have a set period of time, usually 180 days, to locate the defendant and get them back into the system. If the bondsman fails, the defendant’s full bail amount will need to be paid to the court as a penalty. If you posted collateral, your collateral will be used to pay the court.
• Does Appear:  As long as the defendant goes to court and finishes their case, your collateral will be returned once the case is over. This often happens fairly quickly.

Why are Bail Bonds Important?

When you help someone post bond, you’re helping them get out of jail ASAP. You’re also helping them get back to their support system, their loved ones, and their job, while their case is pending. If someone doesn’t post bail bonds, it might take weeks, months, or years for their case to get resolved.

What Types of Bail Bonds Can You Help Me With?

Our company has experience transacting all types of bail bonds, including bonds for misdemeanor charges, bonds for felony charges and bail bonds for federal charges.  We can also help with bail bonds for white collar crimes. Regardless as to whether you need help with $20,000 or $2 million dollar bail bonds, we have the knowledge and experience needed to get the job done right.

• If someone has been charged with a misdemeanor, you’ll want to speak with a bondsman right away. Our company can help you understand what your loved one has been charged with, what jail they’ve been taken to, and how much their bail is. We can also let you know the date and time they’ll need to appear in court after their bond is posted.  
  
  
• If your loved one has been charged with a felony, you’ll also want to help arrange their bail bonds right away. When you call our office, someone will be here to assist you at any time, day or night, weekends and holidays included.
  
  
• If your loved one has been charged with a federal crime, the bail bonds process works differently. Unlike state court, where a defendant can post bail bonds within several hours of being arrested, the federal process moves much slower. It is not at all uncommon for someone to be in federal custody for a week, if not more, before their bail bonds can be posted.  Also worth mentioning, is that in federal court, the judge can choose between several types of bonds, and only one of those types involves calling a bail bonds company. If the judge wants a signature bond or cash bond, you’ll need to arrange that bond, yourself, directly with the court. On the other hand, if the judge is asking for a property bond or a corporate surety bond, our company may be able to help you. For more information on which type of bond the federal court wants, be sure to contact the local federal defenders office.

What Information Will I Need to Give the Bondsman?

When you contact a bail bonds company they’ll start by gathering some information. They’ll ask you if you can provide:

• The defendant’s full name
• Date of birth
• Where they were arrested
• When they were arrested
• What they’ve been charged with and whether you know their bail amount?
• If the defendant was arrested one or more outstanding warrants
• The bondsman may also ask if you have any information about the circumstances surrounding the arrest

Can My Loved One Get Released OR?

The answer to this is a solid “maybe,” depending on what they’ve been charged with. If the defendant is on probation, parole, has a prior criminal past, and has been charged with a felony, they will not be eligible to be released on their own recognizance. On the other hand, if the defendant was charged with petty theft or simple drug possession, they live locally, and they don’t have any outstanding warrants, they might be granted an OR release. Remember, not everyone is eligible to be released OR. For more information on whether your friend or loved one will need bail bonds, or if they might be released on a promise to appear, call our office today to speak with an expert.

Experience You Can Trust

Do you need help getting someone out of the Mission Viejo Jail? Do you know someone who has been arrested by a member of the Mission Viejo Police Department? If so, we can help. Bail Bond Professionals has more than 40 years combined experience in helping people get out of jail fast.  We’re knowledgeable, we’re reputable, and there’s a reason that we’re the top-rated bail bonds company in the area.

We understand that finding out that your friend, adult child, spouse, neighbor, or loved one has been arrested can be a trying and stressful time. When you call our office we’ll be happy to provide you with a free bail bonds consultation.  We don’t engage in high-pressure sales tactics, because we believe that it’s our job to provide you with as much information as you need, for you to make an informed decision. If you want to get the bail bonds started now, we can help. If you’d like to think about it for a few hours, or you’d like to call us back in the morning, that’s OK too.

For more information on us, our company, or how we can help you get your loved one out of the Mission Viejo Jail, call our office today to get started.