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If I am arrested should I bail out?
Sometimes an attorney can arrange your surrender and release prior to you being arrested. Otherwise, only bail out if you can afford to do so and still have money to hire an attorney. Remember that if you use a bail bondsman, the bondsman keeps 10% of the total bail. This is not because he or she is ripping you off. It’s simply the way they make a living, as they take the risk that you won’t show up in court. If you can hang on till you go to court, an attorney may be able to get your bail substantially lowered, especially if you have a job and no significant criminal record. You may even be eligible for release without bail, where you just sign a promise to appear. If you want to discuss whether bailing out is appropriate in your case, please feel free to contact our firm or have someone else do it for you.