Problem: Article: Better Bail Bureau is an association that seeks to connect individuals with honest bail bondsman. The association maintains a list of bail bondsman and bail bond agencies with grades from a high "A" to a low "F". Before you hire a bail bondsman, look on the Better Bail Bureau for their grade to ensure they have a good reputation and have them confirm their grade to show they are willing to be honest and upfront with you. You should also ask the bail bondsman how long they have been in the bail bonds business. Generally, the longer the bail bondsman or agency has been in business, the better their track record of satisfied clients and successful bail postings. Many reputable bail bond companies are family owned and have been in the bail bonds business for generations. This means they have successfully helped many clients and have an incentive to maintain a good reputation. Ask the bondsman to show you their current bail license and inquire if their license has ever been suspended or revoked. Some bail agents or companies have a restricted license due to legal action against them by a client or due to misconduct. A trustworthy bail bondsman will be upfront about this information and will provide clear reasons why their license was revoked or suspended in the past, if necessary. The State Department of Insurance can also provide information on the bail license for the bondsman and/or the bail bond company. In addition, you should also ask the bondsman if they have been sued by a client in the last year. Some bail agents are sued by clients due to unreturned collateral in the form of money or other assets. You can confirm if the bondsman is not wrapped up in any lawsuits due to poor service by searching the court records in the county where the bail bondsman operates. Look at the civil court records for cases naming the bondsman as a defendant for the last five years to check that the bondsman has a clean record. A reputable bail bondsman will be upfront about the total fees for their services. Make sure the charges on the bail bond contract includes the upfront premium for the bail bond, usually 10% of the total bail bond set by the court, and any additional fees. Some bail bondsman will try to charge you an annual bail bond premium for as long as the bail bond for the defendant is in effect. Avoid bondsman who try to do this as this is clearly just a way to turn a profit, rather than secure the defendant out on bail. Some bail bondsman may require other conditions around the bail bond besides the bail bond fee to ensure they will not lose their investment in the defendant. This could include drug treatment, maintaining employment or schooling, or reporting to the bail bondsman on a regular basis. Make sure the defendant understands the conditions of the bail bond and agrees to follow them to ensure there are no conflicts or issues with the bail bonds contract. These conditions should be specified in writing in the bail bonds contract and clear to all parties signing the contract. If you and the bail bondsman have agreed on partial payment of their fee, followed by monthly payments, make sure this appears in writing in the bail bond contract. Any interest charged by the bail bondsman should also be noted in the contract. As well, if the bail bondsman asks for real estate, such as your home, to be pledged as collateral for the bail bond, ask them how long they will wait before foreclosing on your home in the event you cannot pay off the bail bond. Most reputable bail bondsman give 90 days on a debt and 30 days on a forfeiture. This time frame should be clearly stated in the contract so you are aware of where you will stand financially if the collateral needs to be collected for the bail bond. Make sure the bail bondsman agrees to give you invoices for all charges relating to the bail bond and a receipt for all payments you complete on the bail bond. This information will be useful in the event you need to dispute charges relating to the bail bond in court.
Summary: Check the bondsman's score on Better Bail Bureau. Confirm the bondsman has a current bail license. Ask the bondsman for details on their fees and any conditions around posting bail. Review the bail bond contract in full before signing it.

Problem: Article: Black and brown are the most popular neutral colors. You can also try nude/tan, white, and gray as well. Silver and gold are also both considered to be neutral, and are ideal for evening looks. Plan ahead. Avoid mixing contrasting colors, such as white booties and a black dress. This will "cut" your legs in half, and make them appear too short. The more slender your heel is, the more chic and sophisticated your outfit will look. A sleek, slender heel is also ideal if you want a more dressy look. Shiny materials make things look bigger. Matte materials, such as leather, suede, or canvas, make things appear smaller. Ideally, the cuff of the boot should extend just past the ankle as well. You might also want to skip excessive details, such as heavy embellishment or lots of straps. These will only add bulk to your boots, and thus to the ankle area. These styles tend to be more comfortable than ones with high heels and pointed toes, especially after hours of walking. They are ideal for casual, day-time looks. The pointed toes and higher heels automatically make these styles look fancier than their casual counterparts. They are feminine, and great for elongating the leg. They are ideal for date nights where you won't be doing a lot of walking. Depending on what body shape you have, different boot styles will help balance your body out. Listed below are some ideas based on the four main body types: If you have a pear-shaped body, your hips are wider than your shoulders. Opt for a simple pair of ankle boots with a heel. If you have an inverted triangle shape, your shoulders are wider than your hips. Try a pair of brightly colored boots. Heavily-embellished styles will also work. This will give the illusion of curvier legs. If you have a rectangle body shape, your hips, wait, and shoulders are the same size. Try a pair of detailed boots, as this will give the illusion of curves. If you have an apple body shape, your widest point will be your waist or torso. Opt for a pair of brightly colored or heavily-embellished boots. This will draw the attention away from your waist, and give the illusion of curves. Much like body type, different boot styles will help balance things out like height, curves, or lack of curves. Listed below are some ideas based on different height and size combinations: If you are short and slim, go for heeled boots that cover the ankle. This will make your legs appear longer. Avoid boots that end at or below the ankle. This will extend your legs, and give you a longer, sleeker look. If you are tall and curve, skip the cuff details. Too much detailing along the cuff will draw too much attention to your calves, and make them appear thicker than they actually are. Instead, opt for plain cuffs. If you are tall and slender, you can go with any style of boot.
Summary:
Pick boots in neutral colors so that you can wear them with more outfits. Go for boots with a heel if you'd like to make your legs appear longer. Wear boots made from a matte material if you have large feet. Go for boots with a wider cuff if you want your legs to appear slimmer. Consider boots with rounded toes and a shorter heel if you will be on your feet a lot. Consider boots with pointed toes and a higher heel for special occasions. Choose boots that flatter your body shape. Choose boots that flatter your body type and make your legs appear longer. If you are petite and curvy, choose boots with a pointed toe.