If you need to bail a family member out of jail for a DUI, you will need to become a co-signer. By becoming a co-signer, you will be financially liable for the bail in the event that your family member does not show up to court. However, this is usually the only way that your family member will be allowed to leave jail.

Your Responsibilities as a Co-Signer

Once you have become a co-signer, you will be responsible for making sure that your family member shows up for all scheduled court dates. If your family member does not show up, you may be held responsible for paying for the bail. 

If your loved one chooses to not go to court, you should contact your bail bond agent as soon as possible. The bail bond agent might be able to guide you through this situation. In some cases, the bail bond agent might need to hire a bounty hunter to locate your family member.

The Forfeiture of the Bail Bond

The bail bond will be forfeited if your loved one fails to show up to court and cannot be located. Under these circumstances, you will be responsible for paying for the bail amount. How this is done depends on whether the bond was secured or not.

Secured Vs. Unsecured Bonds

In some cases, you may be able to become a co-signer with no collateral. This most often occurs when you have an excellent credit score. However, in other cases, you might be forced to use collateral to secure your bond.

The types of collateral you might use include:

• A deed to your property
• Jewelry
• The title of a car
• Priceless artwork
• Any other highly valuable piece of property

If your family member skips bail, the collateral would then be used to pay for the bond.

The Importance of Posting Bail

While you will have several responsibilities you must meet if you are a co-signer of a bail bond. Working with a bail bond agency is your best option if you do not have the money to post bail yourself.

You will only need to pay 10% of the bail and your family member will be released from jail until their trial. This will allow your loved one to avoid losing time, not have to remain in the county jail, and focus on building a solid case for why the DUI charges should be dismissed.

Contact a company like All Star Bail Bonds for more information about bail bonds.