When someone is arrested, they may be able to get out of jail by paying a bond. This bond is typically 10% of the total bail amount and is paid to a bond company. The bond company then pays the court to take over the bond. To help people get out of jail, a bail bondsman or bail bonds agency can be hired.
But what is the difference between these two?A bail bondsman is an individual who is employed by an insurance company, managing general agent, or a bond agency. They are licensed to comply with bond agreements and can be the owner of the business. Once licensed, they are assigned a license number and can be used for any bail bond needs. When someone hires a bail bondsman, they pay a non-refundable fee and sign a contract with them. The guarantor then deposits the amount of the bond so that the client can get out of jail.
The guarantor is then legally responsible for the full amount of the bond if the customer fails to appear in court. A bail bonds agency is similar to a bail bondsman but instead of one individual, it is an entire business. This business will have several bail bond agents who are all licensed and assigned license numbers. They will also have experience in helping people get out of jail and will be able to provide more resources than an individual. Unlike limited bond agents, professional bond agents pledge their own funds as collateral for a bond. In Florida, most bail bond agents will be employed by a bondsman, but professional bail bondsmen can also work independently.
Bail bond agents are hired based on experience and are only paid if they find and return the person who has missed the bail. Any bail bond agent who intends to operate under any business name other than their individual name must create a secure MyProfile Bail Bond Agency account type and appoint a principal bond agent before they can operate or advertise. Once you have held a temporary bond agent license for one year and have gained 1540 hours of work experience, you can apply to become a licensed resident limited guarantee agent (bonds) or a professional bond agent. All bail bond agents, except temporary bail bond agents, can execute and sign bonds, manage guarantee receipts, deliver bonds and defendants to jail, and operate bail bond agencies. Once you have completed the educational requirements, you and your supervising bail agent must file an affidavit under oath to verify that you are currently working full time as a bond agent.
