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7 Things You Didn’t Know About Bailiffs

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Posted: 4th November 2019 by
Lawyer Monthly
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If you don’t know, a bailiff is a manager in the court and a legal person who is supposed to carry out important activities during a trial.

Bailiffs assist lawyers and governmental agencies in important tasks. Beginning with collecting evidence down to escorting jurors to their seats, they are in complete control of the situation. However, not much is known about them to the public. In this article we reveal some interesting facts about bailiffs, which you might’ve not know before.

  1. There are different types of bailiffs

Most people think all bailiffs are the same, but the truth be told, there are three types of bailiffs. One of them collects debts on behalf of a creditor, another is responsible for collecting evidence, and the last type is responsible for handling cases primarily related to courtroom sessions.

  1. They can enter the house with force

Don’t think you can stop a bailiff at your doorstep. They are legally authorized to enter your house at any time, day or night. Though most bailiffs always ask permission before entering, most of them will forcefully enter your house under intense conditions.

  1. Bailiff fees

Most people think they are paid less, but contrary to this, bailiffs charge whatever amount they want. However, that depends on the kind of task they’ve been assigned or the distance they have to travel to get to the criminal. They might charge $30 for first visit and more depending on the work. If you want to know about a professional bailiff’s fees, visit this website.

  1. Bailiffs can pin you to the ground

A bailiff is legally allowed, by law, to carry arms and self-defense weapons in the courtroom. They have to protect the judge, jury members and all attendees in court. If you were to start trouble within a courtroom, the bailiff in charge would pin you to the ground and arrest you.

  1. They can't take everything

A bailiff may take anything related to the person convicted but can't take anything that belongs to other family members such as the person’s wife and kids’ possessions. They cannot misbehave with other family members under any circumstances. Most films show a different perspective on the bailiff that is not correct.

  1. A bailiff can arrest you at anytime

Bailiffs are instructed to carry out arrest if the convicted person turns hostile and/or fails to appear in court. So, if you try to escape a trial, you should expect a bailiff to come banging at your door any time. They can turn very hostile during an arrest, so you better pull back your punches.

  1. Bailiffs stand a chance to open your closet

If you have previous rent arrears or other issues with the court, a bailiff might know at your door at any time. If you try to hide important goods that the bailiff is searching for, you must keep away from the search area. Once the bailiff fails to find the goods, he won't spare another minute and straight away browse your closet.

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