As you might already know, bail bondsmen offer services to make it easier for people to get out of jail on bond. When you work with a bail bondsman, you only have to pay a bail bond fee, so you don't have to actually come up with the entire amount of money for your loved one's bail. If you're on a tight budget or if your loved one has a high bail amount, however, you might be worried that you will not actually be able to come up with the cash to pay the bail bondsman. These are some of the things that you can do if you have found yourself in this situation.

Look for a Bail Bondsman Who Charges a Lower Fee

There are typically state laws that prevent bail bondsmen from charging over a certain amount for their services. Many bail bondsmen do set their rates at this amount. There are some bail bondsmen out there who actually charge lower fees than this, however. It isn't a bad idea to check with a few different bail bondsmen to inquire about their rates, since you might be able to find one in your area who charges a little less than the others. This could make the difference between having enough money to get your loved one out of jail and not being able to help your loved one at all.

Ask if the Bail Bondsman Will Accept Something Other Than Cash

In some cases, bail bondsmen will only accept cash or a credit or debit card. In other cases, bail bondsmen will sometimes take items of value instead of cash. For example, you might be able to pay your loved one's bond with jewelry or other valuable items. You may need to check with a few different bail bondsmen to find someone who is interested in this type of arrangement. You may also be required to pay at least part of the bond fee in cash.

Ask About a Payment Plan

You might assume that you will have to come up with your loved one's entire bond fee amount. However, some bail bondsmen will set up a payment plan, so this may be something you will want to ask about so that you can make the bond fee a little bit easier to pay.

It can be a bad situation when someone you care about is in jail and you aren't able to post bond for them. Working with a bail bonds agency can help, but even then, it can sometimes be challenging to come up with enough money to post bond. Luckily, the tips above should help. Hopefully, soon, you will be able to work something out so that your loved one can be released from jail.