If my brother is in jail for DWI fines and I bail him out, can collectors come after me for his other debts?

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If my brother is in jail for DWI fines and I bail him out, can collectors come after me for his other debts?

My brother’s debts could be in excess of $100,000, including hospital bills, student loans and a house he walked away from. He is currently in jail for the DWI fines only. I have never co-signed or had any other joint arrangement with him on anything.

Asked on December 13, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, Ohio

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

If you bail out your brother for fines associated with a conviction arising from driving under the influence of alcohol and or a controlled substance, you would be only obligated for the bail bond associated with the criminal conviction that you are writing about and not the other obligations that he has not related to the unpaid fines that have placed him in jail.

Before you bail out your brother, I would make sure that you get a written agreement signed by him where he would repay you all moneys that you will incur for obtaining a bail bond to get him released from jail.


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