Our Services
Why we're the best
Michael White Bail Bonds consists of a network of agents with designations as both professional and surety bondsmen. All agents are licensed by the North Carolina Department of Insurance and appointed as required by law.
In addition to round-the-clock service within our operations radius, we can arrange a client's release from jail in any of the states where bail bonding is practiced. We pride ourselves in going the extra mile to deliver prompt, professional professional service to return clients and prospects everytime!
Our Highlights:
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Always A Live Voice
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Free Professional Consultations
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Discrete and Confidential Service
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There is No Bond Too Small Or Large
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Statewide Bonding/Nationwide Refferals
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We Write Bonds other Agencies Won't !
FAQ's
Q. What is a bail bondsman?
A. A bail bondsman is a person who acts as a surety and pledges money or property to guarantee the appearance of a criminal defendant in court. In the state of North Carolina a bondsman must be licensed and appointed.
Q. Who benefits from the existence of the bail bond industry?
A. Bail bondsmen provide a valuable service to three parties. The first beneficiary is the defendant and the defendant’s family. Being released on bail affords the defendant the freedom to continue working, paying bills and providing for their family while they undergo the court process. If it weren’t for the services of bondsmen, a defendant would likely sit in jail for weeks, months or years before guilt or innocence is determined.
The second party/parties that benefit from the presence of the bail industry are the various county jail systems. While statistics reporting the percentage of arrestees who bond out of jail vary, it isn’t disputed that the services of bondsmen assist in reducing overcrowding in local jails. If no arrestees were given the opportunity to bond out, local municipalities would strain their budgets as they would be required to build and staff more jails to accommodate the larger inmate population.
The final party to benefit from the presence of the bail industry is the community as a whole. Since bail agents assume full financial responsibility for every risk we underwrite (and a large bond can force a bonding company into insolvency), we have a great stake in ensuring the defendant’s appearance. In other words, a bail agent is motivated to recover an absconder in a way that salaried law enforcement officers aren't.
Q. How are bondsmen compensated?
A. When you contract the services of a bondsman a fee of 10-15% of the face amount of the bond is usually required. This is the non-refundable cost of service normally called the bond fee or premium. Bond fee maximums are set by statute and vary from state to state. In the state of North Carolina 15% of the bond amount is the legal limit and industry standard.
Q. What is the legal maximum a bondsman can charge as a non-refundable fee?
A. 15% of the bond amount.
Q. Which governmental agency regulates bondsmen in the state of North Carolina?
A. The North Carolina Department of Insurance or NCDOI.
Q. How do I verify that an individual is a licensed bail agent before I do business with them?
A. This is a legitimate concern. In an emergency situation you may find yourself transacting business with a bondsman over the phone or across state lines. For many, the only payment option maybe credit card via telephone; and while licensed bondsmen are law abiding citizens, the bail industry is not impervious to scam artist and perpetrators of fraud. We strongly advise that you visit the website for The North Carolina Department of Insurance and follow the links for "bail bondsman license look-up" to verify license status or simply click here. This will ensure that the party you are negotiating with is a licensed, legitimate bail bond firm. You can also utilize this site to research whether or not a bondsman has been censured or fined.
Q. How do I file a formal complaint against a bondsman?
A. Formal complaints against bondsmen can also be filed at www.ncdoi.com. The investigators are sworn police officers and consumer advocates with extensive knowledge of the bail laws and prohibited practices.
Q. Once a bondsman's services have been contracted, what is needed in order to remain in good standing with the bonding company?
A. In order to remain in good standing with the bonding agency an individual would simply need to attend his scheduled court appearances and pay any balance of premium. The bonding company may impose a few additional stipulations on a case by case basis.
Q. Is there an alternative to using a bondsman when a loved one is arrested?
A. The alternative to using a bondsman is paying the entire bond amount out-of-pocket directly to the magistrate in cash. Ex. A $5,000 bond for a “domestic violence” charge would require that $5,000 in cash be delivered to the magistrate’s office before the defendant’s release would be processed.
Q. Is the bail premium I pay to the bondsman refundable?
A. No. The premium or fee that bondsmen charge for use of their services is not refundable.
Q. In what circumstances would a bonding company require collateral?
A. In some instances, additional measures are needed to secure the defendant’s appearance. For large bonds it is a common practice for a bail agent to require a promissory note secured with a deed of trust or collateralize a vehicle or other valuable item until the case is disposed of; at which point the collateral is returned. In the state of North Carolina a bondsman can collect up %100 of the bond amount in collateral. This collateral must be returned after the disposition of the case.
Q. Is the collateral that a bonding company collects refundable?
A. Yes. The collateral a bondsman collects is “fully refundable” provided that the bondsman is not required to pay a bond forfeiture as the result of the defendant failure to appear in court. The moment at which the bondsman pays the forfeiture for an absconder, the collateral is transferred to the possession of the surety.