Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

If you have the money, the best way is to post the full $20,000 in cash. As long as he makes his court appearances, you'll get it back when the case is over.

If you don't have the money, you can get a bail bond, which is like an insurance policy that pays the court if he doesn't show. The usual premium is ten percent -- in your case, two thousand dollars -- which you will never see again. Sometimes you can negotiate it down to eight percent, and some bail bond agencies will take a down payment with the balance due in installments.

But remember... the money you pay for bail bond is not refundable, even if his case is dismissed.

If he was just arrested, you may want to wait until he goes to court. If he was just arrested today, they will have to bring him to court by Thursday. If the judge releases him on his promise to appear, you will have saved some big bucks.