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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions. Gain peace of mind with a better understanding of how the bail process works.

How does the bail bond process work?

  1. Call us at 801-919-8626
  2. We get your loved one out of jail. At a fraction of the cost.

That’s the simplified version. In detail, we research charges and bail the moment we receive your call. We write a bond to the jail, usually for 10% of the original bail amount. All you have to do is wait for the paperwork to go through. You’ll then receive a call from the jail confirming your loved one’s release.

What should I know before I contact a bail bond agent?

The name of the facility. We need to know where the detained person is being held so we can call or find their records in our database.

The full name of the person in custody. A booking number is helpful, but not necessary—we can get this information from the jail.

The bail amount. If you have this information, we can usually tell you over the phone how much it will cost to get a person out of jail. If you don’t have this information, we can get it from the jail.

How do I get someone released from custody?

There are a few ways you can get a person released from custody.

  1. Use a bail bondsman. If you choose to work with us, you’ll usually end up only paying 10% of the bail amount.
  2. Pay the facility directly. This requires cash for the full amount of the bail bond paid to the court or jail.
  3. Use physical property (like a home) as collateral. This is in place of the amount required for bail.

Alternatively, the judge may simply release the defendant.

What Do Bondsmen Accept As Collateral?

If a person ends up in jail and they qualify for bail, the judge will determine the amount at their court hearing. Instead of paying the full bail amount out-of-pocket (which can be quite expensive), people will generally hire a bail agent who will post their bond in exchange for a 10% commission. However, as a way of ensuring their promise to appear in court, the bail agent will also ask them to sign over collateral.

Read more in the full article Here.

Will I Need Collateral On My Bond?

Bail amounts can often be quite expensive. Since paying the full bail amount can be a challenge, most people will usually hire a bail agent. When a person hires a bail agent, the agent agrees to post their bond in exchange for a 10-15% commission. As a way of ensuring your promise to appear in court, the bail agent may also ask you to sign over collateral.

Read more in the full article Here.

What Is A Cash Only Bail?

A cash only “bail” means it can’t be bonded. In other words, the Judge has required you to pay the full amount of the bail directly to the court rather than paying only a fraction of that to a bondsman.

Let’s say the judge sets your bail at $1,000 bond-able. In theory, you can run to a bail bondsman and only pay around 10% of that (which is $100) and the bondsman will sign a contract with the jail saying they will make sure the defendant appears or they will pay the remaining balance. This works most of the time…

Read more in the full article Here.

Why Are Bail Bonds Open 24/7?

Sportsmans Bail Bonds is open 24 hours a day, 7 days of the week. There are unique business challenges that come with ensuring your business is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Yet, we understand the emergencies that come with ensuring your loved one is safe and out of jail at any time of the day or night. That’s why we made the decision starting our company that we were going to be available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day including holidays.

Read more in the full article Here.

How Do I Look Someone Up in the Salt Lake Metro Jail?

If you are looking for someone in the Salt Lake County jail, you’ve come to the right place!

Although you can look someone up using the inmate lookup tool, the information there is not always up-to-date and can sometimes take hours for information to be processed for the public to view.

Read more in the full article Here.

Do I get my money back once the case is resolved?

When you work with us—or any bonding office—the 10% is collected as a fee for our services and is thus non-refundable. If for any reason we fail to meet any part of our contract, then and only then is this fee refundable.

Are there any discounts on bail bond fees?

Bail bond companies in the state of Utah cannot charge less than 10% of the total bond amount. State laws regulate the minimum amount a bail bond company can charge a client. In Utah, that minimum is 10% of the total bond amount. If any bail bond agent in Utah charges less than 10%, they can lose their license.

If I don’t have enough cash, what can I use as collateral?

Real estate, cars, credit cards, stocks, bonds, jewelry, personal credit or bank accounts. Need to use collateral but don’t have any of these options available? Call us to discuss alternatives!

Do I have to use my house as collateral for posting bail?

We rarely ask for collateral, and can often work out bail based on a steady and long job history alone. We’ll help you get your loved one out of jail with the least amount of risk to you and your family.

What areas does Sportsmans Bail Bonds service?

We have bail bond agents all around Utah from St. George and Utah County to Salt Lake City and Draper. For a complete list of Jails we offer bail services for, click here.

Who can help me with bail bonds in Utah County?

Thad Ellis is our Utah County Bail Agent. If you are looking for where to go, how long it will take to get your loved one out of jail, or any other questions, you can visit Thad Ellis’ page here.

Does bail money get returned?

It depends on the type of bail required. You won’t always have your money returned when you post it directly to the court or jail. Is it a Surety Bail, Cash Bail, or Property Bond? AboutBail has a quick guide to this on their informative website: Will I Get My Bail Money Back?