Getting out of jail can be a headache if you do not know who you can depend on. In the process of availing bail bonds, a co-signer is required during the process to guarantee that the defendant (can be a relative or friend), will attend the scheduled court date and pay fines when summoned to do so. A co-signer basically can be anyone who knows the defendant and the stronger the relationship, the more likely the bail bondsman will be inclined to accept the co-signer. If a co-signer resides in a different state from the defendant, it may still be possible to co-sign; however, it does vary between states. If you are looking for a defendant in Colorado, you can check out inmate locator Colorado.
Qualifications of a Co-Signer
- Good Credit History
A good credit history means having regular payments, some savings, collateral, or property to make you a good co-signer. In other words, as long as you have some financial backing if you need to pay the bond money.
- Good Job History
If you want to be a co-signer, having a job for some time with a regular paycheck is a plus. It is a way the bail bondsman can feel secure that you will be able to pay for the bail amount if the defendant breaches their bail terms. It could also show that you are a reliable citizen.
- Responsible
Being a co-signer means that you are committed to the whole process. If in case, the co-singer fails to meet the responsibilities, he/she needs to face the consequences as outlined in the bail agreement. The co-signer will have to be accountable for the defendant showing up to court for scheduled appearances until the trial is over. If you want to check the defendant, you can go to the Colorado inmate search.
Co-Signer’s Responsibilities
The common responsibilities of a co-signer include:
- Getting over the defendant to court at the scheduled time. If failed to show up, the court or the bondsman will be seeking to pay the bail amount.
- Paying the bond premium. A bond premium is a percentage of the full bail amount which the bail bondsman charges for the service of fronting the bail money for the defendant. This must be paid before the bail is posted.
- Point out that if the defendant does skip bail, the bail bondsman may charge a recovery fee to find them and return them to jail. The fee may fall to the co-signer.
There are a lot of things to consider before deciding to be a co-signer. It is a legal commitment and just an ordinary agreement where you can back out anywhere you want. You need to think of the defendant you are co-signing for. The inmate locator Colorado could help to know more about the defendant. You also need to consider the documentation process and financial liabilities.
At Red’s AnyTime Bail Bonds, they have over 40 years of experience in the industry and are one of the first licensed bail bond agencies in Colorado. They can also assist you if you decide to be a co-signer and will help you with the Colorado inmate search.